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After leaving the James Bond series, Pierce Brosnan unwound by acting in The Matador. In this film, he gets to walk through a hotel lobby in his underwear, swear almost unceasingly, and befriend Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis. You see, Brosnan is a hit man who wants to retire. Alone in Mexico City, he strikes up a conversation with Greg who is there on business. They bond (excuse the pun) and Brosnan sees the life he will never have. The friendship continues, and eventually Brosnan pays a surprise visit to Greg and Hope with unusual results.

The music selections for The Matador go from mariachi music to matador bullfighting music to Tom Jones. The program notes are hilarious as film director Richard Shepard tells of trying to get music within their budget. The Rolling Stones got tossed out because they were too expensive, and The Killers made it into the movie, but not this CD soundtrack. Tom Jones “It’s Not Unusual” made it in during the last week of editing, and Asia’s “In the Heat of the Moment” replaced REO Speedwagon’s “Keep On Loving You” for the racetrack section.

Since much of the film is centered in Mexico City, the selections have a south-of-the-border beat. There is the dramatic “El Matador” (Los Fabulosos Cadillacs) during an important bull-fighting sequence in which Brosnan explains the intricacies to Greg Kinnear. “Garbageman” by The Cramps is played when the underwear-clad Brosnan walks through the hotel lobby to staring guests.

Composer Rolfe Kent’s three selections, “Manila Fiasco,” “Matador Theme,” and “One Night in Mexico” blend well with the mood of the story, which goes from some serious hit man killing on Brosnan’s part to trying to blend in with society when you are rough around the edges.

The soundtrack is adequate and certainly has a Spanish flair to it, but it is not particularly memorable.

Copyright 2006 Marie Asner
Submitted 3/5/06