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Brosnan shows sleazy appeal in 'The Matador'

Pierce Brosnan may be out of the James Bond business for good, but playing an assassin in "The Matador" he gets to strut through a seedy reflection of that famous persona — as a ladies' man who happily (and generally) pays for sex, a boozer who gets sloppy and hungover, and a gunslinger who's about to suffer a bad case of self-doubt.

The Weinstein Company 'The Matador' 3 out of 5 stars Director: Richard Shepard Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Hope Davis, Adam Scott, Philip Baker Hall Run time: 97 minutes Release date: Dec. 30, 2005 Rating: R for strong sexual content and language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'The Matador'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

But pinning the film's substantial entertainment value on its tweaking of the 007 myth wouldn't give enough credit to Brosnan. He's deliciously sleazy here, smooth as '70s velour while acting out our fantasies of bad behavior. But he also puts the "pathos" in "sociopath," revealing a desperation for connection that is almost touching and keeps the film from being just a parody.

While on assignment in Mexico City, Brosnan crosses paths with his opposite: mild-mannered Greg Kinnear, on a business trip he hopes will end a string of bad luck. The two take to each other despite Brosnan's knack for saying the wrong thing; soon, the hit man is trying to win over his square friend by showing him the secrets of his trade.

"Matador" is funny and slick, and more fun than most of what's in theaters right now. It isn't really interested in the moral issues it raises with a last-act plot twist; this is shallow water, and things bottom out a bit when we're expected to care about right and wrong. We're here for the same reason as Kinnear and onscreen wife Hope Davis: the vicarious rush of Brosnan's id, and the surprisingly appealing — but necessarily slim — sliver of humanity beneath it.