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After The Sunset
Don't allow two hours of your life to be stolen.

Actors: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris , Don Cheadle
Director: Brett Ratner
Screenwriters: Paul Zbyszewski, Craig Rosenberg

Reviewed by Chris Ching

The cameraman knows a star when he sees them.

The ample bosom of Salma Hayek deserves a screen credit in After the Sunset, because it's about the only source of excitement in a suspense filled heist film perilously low on suspense. Breast humor aside, you'll certainly wind up disappointed you plunked down $5.75 - or God Forbid - $9.75 on this flick.

"Please, look at me when I'm talking to you moron!"

Pierce Brosnan and Hayek play a diamond stealing duo who after pulling their last heist, retire to the Bahamas to live out their lives together speaking in sexual double entendres. Like junkies aching for one more fix, the couple struggle in lawful retirement with Brosnan finding it the most difficult to get the monkey off his back.

Things get even more complicated when two unwanted parties arrive in town: a cruise ship holding a priceless, "oh so" tempting diamond docks in their island paradise and an obsessed FBI investigator (played hilariously by Woody Harrelson) who wants to catch them in the act.

After successfully upping his artistic credibility with Red Dragon, director Brett Ratner takes a huge step back with After the Sunset. The movie lumbers at a snail's pace and not with the kick necessary for a good heist film.

Speaking of the genre, neither the prize in question or how it will be acquired are anything earth shattering especially in light of more winning heist films like Ocean's 11. The big switcheroo at the end where the whole film is supposed to turn the audience perception upside down feels more like a limp sidestep. Even worse, it's never revealed why Brosnan's character is such a risk taker in the first place, or why he would throw everything away on wealth he has no need for.

Still, If the two lead actors atleast brought some star wattage to their roles, the deficiencies in the script (of which they're are many) might be forgiven. Unfortunately, they don't.

Brosnan coasts through most of the movie on auto-pilot. He essentially riffs on his 007 persona although it's more like "Bland, James Bland." Other examples of Bond-age - the car remote control from Tomorrow Never Dies, the same locale as Thunderball - don't help the guy's case of ever getting out from behind the shadow of Her Majesty's Secret Service. For her part, Salma Hayek is still a B-star trapped in the body of a goddess and despite her Academy Award nomination for Frida rarely has made an impact she didn't owe to her breathtaking looks. Sorry Salma.

Together, these two ooze no chemistry which is key since the films hinges on the audience worrying their relationship might crumble. The big "I Love you" speech at the film's climax is so hollow, I felt it had to be a setup. No such luck

Rating:

(1 1/2 out of 4 stars)

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