After the Sunset Back to Index

Imdb Rating: 6.2
Genre: Action
Directed: Paul Zbyszewski (story), Paul Zbyszewski (screenplay)
Country: USA
Year: 2004
Duration: 97 min

Media: Hot stuff

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Actors: Pierce Brosnan (as Max Burdett), Salma Hayek (as Lola Cirillo), Woody Harrelson (as Stan Lloyd), Don Cheadle (as Henri Mooré), Naomie Harris (as Sophie), Chris Penn (as Rowdy Fan), Troy Garity (as Luc), Mykelti Williamson (as Agent Stafford), Obba Babatundé (as Zacharias), Russell Hornsby (as Jean-Paul), Rex Linn (as Agent Kowalski), Robert Curtis-Brown (as Lakers FBI Agent (as Robert Curtis Brown)), Mark Moses (as Lakers FBI Agent), Michael Bowen (as FBI Driver), Tony Ledard (as Referee)

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Description: "Who will walk away?"

The story of what happens after a master thief achieves his last big score, when the FBI agent who promised he'd capture him is about to do just that.

Comment: After the Sunset sees Pierce Brosnan play an ex-jewel thief in a simple "will the old pro come out of retirement for one last job" movie that is far more entertaining than its unoriginal premise sounds.

Pierce Brosnan takes to his dressed-down James Bond role very well, and the jokes and his style make him a very likable character. Woody Harrelson, the rival FBI agent, puts in a similarly enjoyable performance, and his inept bumblings around the island create some unexpected comic situations between the cop and the thief. It's the relationship between these two (and the compromising situations they find themselves in) that makes the film, as they antagonize each other and almost become buddies toward the end. Their encounters add something fresh and unexpected to the movie's simple formula and make it really entertaining.

Oh, and special mentions have to go out for Don Cheadle and Salma Hayek. Don's character is very funny, and he plays both sides of it well, and as for Salma...let's just say the directors are aware of what their male audience wants to see.

All in all, it's funny, quick, easy to follow, and contains enough little quirks to make After the Sunset an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

IMDB TRIVIA FOR AFTER THE SUNSET (2004):
- John Stockwell was originally slated to direct, but dropped out of the production in the summer of 2003.
- It was so cold during filming of some beach scenes, that the actors' breath was visible.
- The beach house (exteriors) were filmed at Sycamore Cove State Beach, just north of Malibu. The structure is actually the regional state lifeguard headquarters.
- The pier to which Max (Pierce Brosnan) ties the inflatable boat was a set piece fabricated just for the film. However, there was once a pier at this location (Sycamore Cove State Beach) in a different location. Occasionally the old pier pilings are visible protruding through the sand.
- AMC theaters and New Line promoted this movie by placing an ad for a sweepstakes on their large popcorn bags. They misspelled Salma Hayek's last name as "Hayak" on the initial print run but the error was quickly caught and rectified.
- After the fishing trip where they caught the shark, drunken Max and Stan sing the same song that was sung by drunken Quint, Hooper, and Brody in Jaws (1975).
- Had a 60-day shoot.
- Max and Lola's beach house was built from scratch on a beach.
- The director's grandparents were sitting behind Max in the basketball game.
- Edward Norton appeared in the audience at the basketball game.
- The lobsters were flown in from Australia.
- Although it doesn't seem to be such a special effects-heavy movie, there were over 150 such shots.
- Pierce Brosnan and Brett Ratner were hoping to collaborate on the next James Bond movie, but after that fell through with Bond producers they decided to maintain their relationship and do this instead.
- The watch that Max and later Stan wears is a Swiss made Panerai Luminor watch.

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