I'll be the first to jump on any dark comedy that crosses my path. My sense of humor is quite broad, generally allowing me to appreciate even the most obscure bits of comedy, the likes of which are usually lost on the people around me. But dark humor, for some reason or another, is my favorite form. Well, that and sarcasm…. That said I watched the DVD of "The Matador" a few days ago, starring Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear. Didn’t really know what I was in for, but came out of the experience quite pleased. It wasn't a perfect film by any means, but I could see specifically why it did not do very well in the box office.

It was written far above the heads of the average moviegoer. Most expected Brosnan to be some kind of super hip spy, but he was anything but. Playing against type (and perhaps turning in one of his best performances ever) Brosnan plays Julian Noble, an assassin who, as the movie progresses, becomes unglued. During the early part of the film, he meets Danny Wright (Kinnear) in a Mexican cantina. Wright is one of those average Joe business types who has had a rather unfair share of tragedy in his life. Over the course of a couple of days, and a few drinks, the two start spilling their guts about their lives, each somewhat jealous of the type of life the other one has. Afterwards they go their separate ways. End of story. Or so you might think.

A few months later, Wright is shocked one night when Noble turns up at his house, looking for help. It would seem that Noble is now on the run, after messing up a big 'job.' He is convinced that Wright is the only person that he can turn to. He moves into the house and everything goes downhill from there.

To be honest, there are times that the script really doesn't work. But I've seen worse scripts saved by outstanding actors and that is where "The Matador" finds its saving grace. Brosnan is as outstanding portraying Noble as he is nearly unrecognizable from any other role he has ever played. Once his character hits rock bottom, the true psychosis takes over as he clings to the Wrights for aid. Psychologically he runs the gamut of emotions of someone teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown and is believable in every scene.

Just as good are Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis as the Wrights, whose lives are turned upside down by Noble's presence. I still remember a few of the earlier roles for Kinnear, where I was surprised to find myself writing good things about his performances. After all, at the time I was used to seeing him as the smarmy host of the TV series "Talk Soup." Who knew there was such a terrific actor hiding under all of those bad jokes and rolling eyes? This is also one of his better performances of late, and one that he deserves a bit more attention for.

The DVD for "The Matador" serves up quite a few special features, which is always a welcome surprise for a good movie that that slipped in and out of theatres way too fast. There are two commentaries, and for a change both are worth listening to. The first is by director Richard Shepard, who goes into quite a bit of detail of the road the film took to being made. His comments include some of the ideas that he didn’t think would work as well as those that he knew he couldn’t change. The second commentary features Shepard again, but this time he is joined by Brosnan and Kinnear. For this one be prepared to laugh… a lot. The three men obviously get along very well and mixed in with the array of anecdotes are many jokes and barbs aimed at each other.

You'll also find 11 deleted or extended scenes, few of which really needed to be in the movie and a 'making of' featurette. The only problem I have with the latter is that it doesn’t really go into the making of the movie as much as it is more of a promo fluff piece where everyone talks about how great everyone else was to work with. The features that will probably be overlooked by most are two radio programs produced for NPR, hosted by film critic Elvis Mitchell (Elvis?), which focus more on the real making of the film. Since it is audio only, and we are a living in a visual world, they will be lost on most consumers. However, I listen to talk radio a lot so I felt right at home, and quite enjoyed them both.

"The Matador", by all rights, will not appeal to everybody. Some will probably not get that there is a comedy hidden under all that exposition. Many will drift once they realize they are not in for a festival of explosions. The rest of you… we'll you’re in for a treat.

Directed by: Richard Shepard
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis
Extras: Deleted Scenes, Commentary by Director Richard Shepard, Commentary by Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear & Richard Shepard, Making of Featurette, The business & The Treatment - Feature Radio Programs Discuss The Matador, TV Commercial, Theatrical Trailer
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Weinstein
Release Date: 7/4/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (Strong Sexual Content and Language)
Website

We'll give The Matador a B+.