After the Sunset
starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Don Cheadle, Naomie Harris and Chris Penn
written by Paul Zbyszewski and Craig Rosenberg
directed by Brett Ratner
Called “Diamond in Paradise” in Japan, I like the Japanese title more than the English one. It feels more fitting and is a better description of what the film is about. From the DVD cover illustrations - as always, my primary tool for deciding on a movie to rent - After the Sunset looks like another 007 film, but it’s not. It is a diamond heist story that is almost good. But it falls just short of being good. I don’t know - for me the foolery of Woody Harrelson spoils it. I think Woody Harrelson is a good performer, but I wouldn’t say he is a good actor.
When I think “diamond heist story” I immediately imagine something involving Frank Sinatra or David Niven, Richard Burton or Robert Shaw. Something classy and vintage.
The setting is ideal: a retired diamond thief living in the Bahamas pulls off one last big heist - from a luxury cruise ship, no less. However, there is a twist at the end that caught me by surprise, which is the only truly good thing I can say about it.
Salma Hayek has a fantastic body but her sensual performance looks simply gratuitous and puts me off.
Chris Penn (brother of Sean) has only a small role at the start of this film as a deliberately distracting, over-zealous basketball fan. I don’t know, but I guess this was his last performance before his premature death.