The Matador

Starring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis. Rated R

You gotta see this if: You’re wondering what James Bond would look like with a mustache.

final analysis: *** “The Matador” takes a burned-out hitman (Pierce Brosnan) and a desperate salesman (Greg Kinnear) and pairs them up in the type of Mexico City bar where tequila is used as an anesthetic. They are opposites drawn to each other for that very reason, and in a place where inhibitions are easily abandoned and unlikely friendships easily made. The events of this comedic thriller can’t be summarized without revealing some of the plot twists that make it so much fun. And while buddy thrillers are nothing new, this one doesn’t fit the mold. It’s the unexpected twists that will leave your bucket of popcorn forgotten as you wait for the next resolve. The chemistry between Kinnear and Brosnan is white-hot as they trade subtext as deftly as dialogue. Brosnan has made a smart choice in this low-budget departure from James Bond. He proves himself a versatile actor, especially when he lets it all hang out crossing a hotel lobby in a Speedo and cowboy boots.

Last Holiday

Starring Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Gerard Depardieu, Timothy Hutton. Rated PG-13

You gotta see this if: You’ve had a huge crash on Gerard Depardieu ever since the movie “Green Card.”

final analysis: ** You’ve seen this before. Mousy, shy person discovers she has a terminal illness and decides to make the most of her last few weeks by finally living life to the fullest. Blah, blah, blah, blah. Even if it weren’t a remake of a 1950’s version, the story still wouldn’t be new. The only thing that makes this entirely formulaic and implausible movie watchable is Queen Latifah. Her energy could breathe life into a documentary about 20th century telegraph poles. She’s also ably assisted by supporting cast members LL Cool J and Gerard Depardieu. Thanks to this trio, “Last Holiday” is amusing entertainment. It might have surpassed amusing, in my book, if the Queen’s character had embraced life without the assistance of enormous wads of cash. Certainly, “live for today” is a motto more of us should remember, but according to this movie, live for today equates spend for today and that’s a philosophy most of us can live without.

Tristan & Isolde

Starring James Franco, Sophia Myles. Rated PG-13

You gotta see this if: You’ve taken too much amphetamine and you need something to bring you down.

final analysis: * The director, Kevin Reynolds, of “Tristan & Isolde” is the same man who directed Kevin Costner in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.” You’d think the critically panned director might have learned something from his past mistakes. No such luck. The characters of Tristan and Isolde reminded me of Anakin Skywalker and Padme from “Star Wars” episodes 2 and 3. They had the same non-existent chemistry and groan-worthy dialogue. In fact, the dialogue throughout is so trite and clichéd that I half-expected Fabio to burst out of the forest to drag off the bodice-bursting beauty. The story itself is very similar to the King Arthur tale. Tristan and Isolde fall in love, then are separated. When they meet again, Isolde has just been married to Tristan’s future King, Lord Marke. Tristan is torn between his allegiance to Marke and his love for Isolde. If you want to see a much superior version of this story, seek out Wagner’s opera of the same name. The movie does contain opera, unfortunately it’s just the sudsy variety.