The Matador

Year: 2008

Runtime: 74 min

Language: English

Directors: Nina Gilden Seavey, Stephen Higgins

Documentary

Danny Wright, a man grappling with a troubled marriage and the loss of his child, finds an unexpected connection with Julian Noble, a disillusioned man he meets in a Mexican bar. To Danny’s surprise, Julian confesses to being a contract killer, a revelation that doesn’t deter their growing bond. As their friendship deepens, Julian finds himself in a desperate situation and seeks a significant favor from Danny, ultimately challenging the limits of their unusual relationship and forcing them both to confront difficult choices.

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Timeline & Setting – The Matador (2008)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Matador (2008). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: December 31, 2024 at 17:39

Main Characters – The Matador (2008)

Meet the key characters of The Matador (2008), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: December 31, 2024 at 17:39

Major Themes – The Matador (2008)

Explore the central themes of The Matador (2008), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: December 31, 2024 at 17:39

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about morally complex friendships like The Matador

Unlikely bonds formed under the shadow of crime, testing loyalty and ethics.Discover movies like The Matador that explore intense, dark bonds between unlikely allies. If you were captivated by the fraught friendship between Danny and Julian, these stories delve into similar themes of loyalty tested by crime, moral compromise, and the redemptive power of connection in bleak settings.

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Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically begin with an improbable meeting between two disparate individuals, often in a state of personal crisis. Their friendship develops against a backdrop of high-stakes danger or moral ambiguity, becoming a catalyst for change. The central conflict arises when the demands of this dark world threaten the bond, leading to a climax that tests its limits and results in a transformative, often bittersweet, resolution for both characters.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core focus on the dynamics of a challenging friendship as the primary driver of the narrative. They consistently feature a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a central moral dilemma that forces the characters to evolve. The experience is defined by the tension between genuine human connection and the corrosive influence of a corrupt or violent environment.

Movies about bittersweet male redemption like The Matador

Jaded, morally compromised characters seeking a fragile form of peace and purpose.Find similar movies to The Matador that follow disillusioned men on a path toward a complicated redemption. If you appreciated Julian's journey from a jaded hitman seeking a way out, these films explore themes of midlife crisis, atonement, and the bittersweet feeling of starting over after a life of moral compromise.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a protagonist who is deeply disillusioned or burdened by his past actions. A catalyst—often an unexpected relationship or a final, high-stakes situation—forces him to confront his apathy or guilt. The journey involves a difficult choice that represents a turning point, leading to an ending where he gains a form of freedom or redemption, but it is tempered by loss, sacrifice, or the lingering shadows of his previous life.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by a specific character arc: a flawed, world-weary male protagonist undergoing a transformative, yet incomplete, redemption. They share a melancholic and tense mood, a steady pacing that allows for character reflection, and a bittersweet conclusion that acknowledges the price of change. The emotional experience is heavy, focusing on regret, the search for meaning, and the complexity of personal reform.

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Don't stop at just watching — explore The Matador in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Matador is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Matador Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Matador, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Matador Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Matador with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Matador Spoiler-Free Summary

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More About The Matador

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Similar Movies to The Matador

Discover movies like The Matador that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.