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Photo © New Line Cinemas
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After The Sunset
Comedy, crime(heist)
1hr.40min.
Nov. 12th, wide
MPAA: PG-13 for sexuality, violence, language
New Line Cinemas
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Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Selma Hayek, Woody Harrelson
Directed By: Brett Ratner
Produced By: Beau Flynn, Neil A. Machlis, Jay Stern
Screenplay By: Paul Zbyszewski(and story); Craig Rosenberg
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Reviewed
By: Wellington Lee
Rated 2.8/5
Two stars that normally play totally different type casts: Pierce Brosnin and Woody Harrelson,
are thrown up against each other in this Comedy/Caper. Unknown co screenwriter Paul (with the
hard to spell name)Zbyszewski came up with the "Story" and the pitch, that hooked veteran exec.
producer Patrick Palmer(Mermaids '90; Hellboy '04),and then these major stars. The comedy,
mostly works. The heist parts come up short:an ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ or ‘The Italian Job’, this is
NOT. The romance dialogue is full of clichés.
Pierce Brosnin stars as Max Burdette, clever high profile jewel thief. Brosnin plays his
type cast, as cool Max rips off a renowned diamond, from the protection of his seven year
adversary : FBI agent Stan Lloyd(Woody Harrelson). Stan is suspicious and yet bumbling, in
Harrelson's charming, 'country dumb' way. Striking Hayek as "Lola", the other thief, is best in
this first intro. heist sequence, as a competent, mechanically skilled thief. The rest of the
movie , Lola plays the 'dumb black haired' busty romantic, with dumber love lines.
The majority of the movie takes place on Paradise Island, Bahamas. Cinematographer Daniel
Spinotti("The Insider '99") earns at least one of the stars ( rating ). Spinotti does a superb
job conveying the
beauty and allure of the otherwise, flat Island. Lola works the good chemistry between her and
Max, seducing him every time she thinks he wavers on their agreed retirement. Agent Stan
shows up on his own, taunts Max, and then tempts him with news of a "Napoleon" multi carrot,
blue diamond,
featured on a moored cruise ship. This is where the movie has to make it: the begrudging
admiration of
Stan for Max, and the condescending, yet latent affection that winner Max has for Stan. Brosnin
is too stiff for half the movie, then when the scenes(the often promoted trailer of the shark
in the boat)require him to loosen up, he does transform. Max is at his best 3/4 of the
way through,
when Stan's lines and direction are briefer in their scenes: Max's support at their break feast
talk after Stan's superiors come to dress him down. Harrelson plays it the same all the way
through , and his character would have been more convincing and less farcical , had he shown a
whiff of his alleged seven year pursuit(more competence)of, and frustration at, the hands of
this pair. Naomi Harris(28 Days Later)supports as a smart,perky constable; but has no chemistry
(screenplay)with Harrelson's Stan , and it goes no where.
Dir. Ratner( Rush Hour '98; Red Dragon '02)does a capable job of setting up the comedy scenes
and what there is of Heist action. I saw a long interview on Charlie Rose(PBS), and Ratner was
still playing up to the striking Hayek. "Frida", she is not. Maybe that's why we see one too
many bend over boob
shots. Her bikini scenes with power saw and nail patch, are mediocre "model shots".
Just plug your ears when Lola(Hayek)talks romantic or philosophical: "We went out at the top of
our game".."The challenge is to find joy in the simple things". Handsome Brosnan's late
transformation to vulnerable, and Max's scenes opposite Harrelson(Stan), are worth a ticket.
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