After The Sunset (2004)

Originally Reviewed

Sunday May 25, 2005

 

Previews for After the Sunset looked interesting when I rented it, but I don't remember it being out it the theaters, which usually isn't very good precursor of things to come. What we have is old Pierce Brosnan still trying to play a Bond-type character, except this time he is thief trying to steal all the Napoleon Diamonds. Salma Hayek is his partner/girlfriend in crime and offers nothing in the way of good acting but play the standard "bond girl" role and accomplishes what I believe her purpose was in the film... to look really hot. Woody Harrleson plays an FBI agent who has already lost one of the diamonds to Brosnan, so he spends 7 years hunting him down. If there are FBI agents like Woody then we are all in deep trouble, his character is pretty much an idiot or at least he leads everyone to believe he is, it's as if Woody from Cheers signed up with the FBI, which in a sense was rather comical and enjoyable to watch at times. Don Cheadle plays a very small role as the local crime boss on this island where Brosnan and Hayek have been living for 7 years, and he wants Brosnan to help him steal the last Napoleon Diamond.

So Woody tracks down Brosnan, assuming that he is planning to steal the last diamond and wants to catch him in the act, and the whole charade begins.  Brosnan knows Woody is watching him and decides to toy with him. If I had to compare this to another film it's similar to a bad copy of Ocean's Eleven, accept they are on an Island and they have Salma Hayek (the film's only slight advantages). Eventually the diamond is stolen by someone, and there are a few interesting twists at the end, I recommend a rent if you like anyone in this film as you might get a kick out of it. As a whole it simply doesn't offer much in terms of action, the story is rather shallow, and Salma Hayek's looks alone can't pull this one out of the deep end.

5/10