From James Bond and wealthy crook Thomas Crown to The Matador’s killer-for-hire Julian Noble, Pierce Brosnan was born to play the rogue.

No matter how dangerous he's supposed to be, all it takes is one twinkle of those oirish eyes and you know the guy just ain't all bad.

As a lover of booze, whores and offensive conversation, Julian is crude in everything he does - except killing, at which he is very effective. In a Mexico City hotel bar, he meets Danny (Kinnear), a man for whom business is rather more legitimate.

Coarse as he is, Julian cringes at the label 'hitman', preferring the term 'facilitator of fatalities' and only taking 'corporate gigs'.

He explains what he does at a (metaphorically convenient) bullfight: "A good matador kills with one strike".

Danny's disbelief is quickly obliterated by a demonstration, but Julian's offer to continue the excitement is more than Danny can handle and they soon part company.

Six months later, Julian has lost his edge with two unsuccessful hits and now his disgruntled employers want him dead. So he pitches up at Danny's snowy Denver home because Danny is the only friend he has. And because Danny owes him one...

The Matador rises above its familiar set-up thanks to writer-director Shepard shooting with style and loading his dialogue with torpor-piercing one-liners: "I feel like a Bangkok whore after the navy’s left town."

And Bond be blowed, because Brosnan is terrific as the killer who shows signs of having a heart but is more probably just a deep well of crocodile tears.

Though the movie runs out of steam slightly towards the end and more could have been made of the wonderful Hope Davis as Danny's wife, this is one to train your sights on.

Elliott Noble