Matador DVD

Advantages: The Soundtrack
Disadvantages: Pierce Brosnan

...I know that there are many people who will undoubtedly disagree with me, but I think that Pierce Brosnan made quite a good Bond. However, I have yet to see him in any other film that has been any good in my opinion. Usually my girlfriend is quite good at not picking out turkeys when we rent a DVD but unfortunately, on this occasion that is exactly what she did. Reading other reviews of this film on ciao it has been celebrated as a 'great' black comedy. However, my general interpretation of black comedy is something that tries, but fails miserably to be funny. The premise for the film is potentially good, an assassin suffering a nervous breakdown who befriends a straight-laced businessman. Even if you go beyond the fact that neither the businessman (or his wife for that matter) seem to bat an eyelid at his career, there was still room... Read review

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Advantages: A surprising pleasant viewing
Disadvantages: A very understated Kinnear

...the on set conversations that Brosnan wanted to try it even if it only gave "a bit of fluff" as he put it for the DVD. A Making Of Featurette gives a little more insight than most on the sort of things that go on on-set. It shows a very close knit team working together and enjoying with some passion the movie they are making. In summing up The Matador is an entertaining and unexpected movie with a nice twist at the end that make the movie appealing for further viewings, the ending of which has a lovely Christmas feel to it; excellent stuff. The Matador is released on DVD in the UK on the 10th July priced £12.99 from Play.com... Read review

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Advantages: A funny script, sharp direction and some blinding performances
Disadvantages: Pervy moustaches ahoy!

...to build tension as the assassin starts to fall apart. And to reference the locale we get sections of Spanish guitar and traditional Mexican brass. But Julian doesn't earn any more spy music until he's back on top of his game, when creeping flute motifs waft in before a full-bodied brass and harpsichord arrangement. Considering the relatively small nature of the movie, budget wise, you get plenty of bang per buck. There are some decent pyrotechnics and the gunmanship is spot on. As is the costume design that has Brosnan dressed as a seedy cross between a lounge lizard and a 1970s Columbian drug baron. And whoever suggested the nasty moustache should get an award - it's the icing on the cake for the character. "The Matador" is a deeply irreverent dig at the spy film genre with a career-defining performance from Pierce Brosnan. Julian reads like... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: A surprising pleasant viewing
Disadvantages: A very understated Kinnear

...the on set conversations that Brosnan wanted to try it even if it only gave "a bit of fluff" as he put it for the DVD. A Making Of Featurette gives a little more insight than most on the sort of things that go on on-set. It shows a very close knit team working together and enjoying with some passion the movie they are making. In summing up The Matador is an entertaining and unexpected movie with a nice twist at the end that make the movie appealing for further viewings, the ending of which has a lovely Christmas feel to it; excellent stuff. The Matador is released on DVD in the UK on the 10th July priced £12.99 from Play.com... Read review

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Advantages: Heartwarming story, Abigail Breslin
Disadvantages: Not exactly action packed

...Director: Jonathan Dayton Valerie Faris Starring: Abigail Breslin (Raising Helen, Signs) Toni Collette (Muriels Wedding, The Sixth Sense) Greg Kinnear (Stuck on You, The Matador) Steve Carell (40 Year Old Virgin, Anchorman) Paul Dano (The Girl Next Door, The King) Running Time: 101 minutes Certificate: 15 Awards: Nominated for 4 Oscars Alan Arkin won a Bafta for his role in this film DVD Extras: Alternative endings Commentaries Plot: Olive (Breslin) wants desperately to be beauty queen, but she is an unlikely candidate. Her thick glasses and geeky appearance aren't exactly the freakishly pruned dolls we have come to expect. When her opportunity comes to take part in "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant she is understandably excited The only drawback is that her mother (Collette) must watch over her suicidal, gay, genius brother (Carell... Read review

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Advantages: amazing film, another almodovar classic
Disadvantages: none in particular, unless you prefer english language films

...Spain. Pedro was very much a mother’s boy, and while she was alive, featured in several of his films, though only as minor parts. However his father worked a lot when Pedro was young, and so they never really got along as much as he did with his mother. Almodovar also has a good relationship with his brother Augustin, who apart from starring in many of Pedro’s films, has directing many of them also, including ‘Volver’. ‘Volver’ is only the most recent in a long string of successful films directed by Almodovar, the first being ‘Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del monton’ from the year 1980. Other films that he has made include: Laberinto de Pasiones, Entre Tinieblas, El Ley del Deseo, Matador, Kika, El Flor de mi Secreto, ¿Que he hecho yo para merecer esto?, Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios, Carne Tremula, Hable con Ella, Atame, La... Read review

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