The Matador (2005)

Screenplay Genre: Comedy / Crime / Drama

Movie Time: 96 minutes

1. INCITING INCIDENT

Julian Noble (Pierce Brosnan) meets Danny Wright (Greg Kinnear) at a bar in Mexico City. They become acquainted, but Julian, being the reckless drunk that he is, quickly offends the affable Danny by making an inappropriate joke as a response to Danny confiding in him about the tragic death of son. (00:17:45)

2. LOCK IN (End of Act One)

The next day, Julian finds Danny to apologize for his behavior the previous night, and as a means of making it up to Danny, he persuades him to go to a bullfight with him later that afternoon. At the fight, Danny learns what Julian does for a living as Julian enthusiastically guides him through a step-by-step mock assassination.(00:31:09)

3. FIRST CULMINATION (Midpoint)

After becoming buddies while in Mexico City, Julian asks Danny to help him with an assassination. Danny recoils in horror once he realizes Julian is serious and explains that “facilitating a fatality” can actually be fun. Ultimately, Danny’s refusal to become Julian’s accomplice severs this short-lived friendship. (00:43:09)

4. MAIN CULMINATION (End of Act Two)

Julian, at a low point, turns to his only friend in the world and shows up at Danny’s home in Denver in the middle of the night over the Christmas holidays. They have a few drinks and catch up into the “Wee hours of the morning” until Julian spills the beans as to the true nature of his unexpected visit: due to the recent development that Julian has lost his psychological ability to kill, he needs Danny’s help on one last job in order to save his life. (01:15:00)

5. THIRD ACT TWIST

Danny and Julian have worked out the perfect assassination plan, and Danny executes his part flawlessly by “accidentally” pouring drinks on the target’s bodyguards, but Julian still can't fire the shot. Now Danny has no choice but to intervene and go further in helping Julian facility his last fatality. (01:24:09)