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The Tailor Of Panama (2001)
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Genre: |
Spy Thriller/Black Comedy |
Director: |
John Boorman
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Rating: |
R |
Running Time: |
109 Minutes |
Release Date: |
March 30, 2001 |
Official Website: |
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Movie Trailer: |
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Discuss and vote: |
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Cast: |
Pierce Brosnan
Geoffrey Rush
Leonor Varela
Jamie Lee Curtis
Brendan Gleeson
Harold Pinter
Catherine McCormack
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Pickup Line: A Well-Tailored Spy Movie
Quickie: A banished British agent preys on a popular, influential tailor in Panama in the weeks leading up to the repatriation of the Panama Canal.
The Long Review:
Whenever Pierce Brosnan stars in a film nowadays, audiences expect a kaboom, kapow sequence in every scene. After all, he is our James Bond (for now, anyways). However, in his latest flick, "The Tailor Of Panama," he is as un-James Bond as he can get, except for the fact that his character has his way with women the way James Bond does. In "The Tailor Of Panama," Brosnan is Andy Osnard, a British spy on the bad side of the M16, so he's banished to Panama. There, he decides to use a renowned tailor, Harry Pendel (Geoffrey Rush), to reclaim his reputation and freedom. How? Well, since Harry's clients include the Panamanian President and other American military figures stationed in Panama, and since his wife is the Panama Canal's director's assistant, Andy asks him to be a spy so that Andy can uncover some delicious scandal regarding the controversial canal. In return, Andy gives Harry money to pay off his $50,000 debt and promises not to expose Harry's dark past (He's an ex-con.)
The movie keeps you interested in that it keeps you guessing as to who's the good guy, who's the bad guy, who's telling the truth, and who's lying. With its intricate plot, engaging dialogue, and intriguing twists, the film grips you from beginning to end. It sure jampacks a lot of complicating action in its 109 minutes. So you have to keep on your toes to keep up, really. If you skip a beat, you just may miss the integral points. And where's the fun in that?? Think of it as a sophisticated mystery game; you need all of your facts straight to compete and win.
Of course, there's a lot more to do than simply picking your brain to decipher what the real dealio is with these spy characters. This movie has a little bit of everything: thrill, suspense, drama, romance, and yes, that unmistakable dark Brit humour. So between scratching your head and creating psychological profiles of the lead characters, you'll also bite your nails, perhaps cry a little, sigh a little, and yes, laugh a little. There's a particular scene involving a Panamanian gay bar that is sure to amuse audiences everywhere. We won't say anymore lest we ruin your experience.
"The Tailor Of Panama" also boasts of some good acting. Pierce Brosnan shines as a suave, cocky, conniving, conscience-less agent. He plays the stark opposite of his trademark character, James Bond, but we're pretty sure the audiences will like him just the same. Geoffrey Rush gives up playing a flambouyant character long enough to give justice to his role as a meek, naïve, and gullible tailor who goes over to the Dark Side. Jamie Lee Curtis is very convincing as a doting and very trusting wife to Geoffrey Rush's character. And male audiences will surely appreciate that her perfect figure, made famous by her dancing stint in "True Lies," remains intact.
Overall, "The Tailor Of Panama" is a clever movie exemplifying the hard fact that all is not necessarily what it seems to be. In this dog-eat-dog world, you really gotta sniff your way…hard. If you're into mind games and conspiracy theories, of you just want a crash course on the fine art of manipulation, then this movie's for you. Go see it! Woof!
In Two Minutes:
Did you know?
- If you've ever looked closely at Pierce Brosnan's top lip, you might have noticed a scar on its right side. He got it when a stuntman hit him while filming "Tomorrow Never Dies."
- Catherine McCormack, who plays Pierce Brosnan's love (or should we say lust?) interest in this movie is currently dating Joseph Fiennes. We wonder if Mr. Fiennes is jealous of the steamy sex scenes his girlfriend shares with debonaire Brosnan??
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