Really Surprised!

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Pierce Brosnan and Selma Hayak star in "After the Sunset," a 2004 movie directed by Brett Ratner and also starring Woody Harrelson and Don Cheadle.Brosnan is Max, a diamond thief who retires to Paradise Beach in the Bahamas with his girlfriend Lola (Hayak) after his final success, the second of three Napoleon diamonds. He got the first one, too. In his wake he made a fool of an FBI agent Stanley (Harrelson) who was carrying the second diamond under guard. Stanley is so angered and freaked out that he's put on suspension. However, no one on Paradise Island knows that. He shows up on the island just as a ship displaying the Napoleon III diamond pulls into port. When Max steals it, he plans to be ready for him.And Max is under some heavy pressure to do just that. He's visited by the biggest gangster on the island (Cheadle) who wants Max to steal the diamond for him so he can build a paramilitary installation in place of the children's hospital he demolished. Lola, on the other hand, doesn't want Max even contemplating coming out of retirement.Entertaining film in the kind of movie that USA Network used to produce years ago - it's a lighthearted movie with beautiful scenery, beautiful people, lots of romance, and a derivative story told in an interesting way.The only problem with this film is that, without Brosnan and Hayak, this could be a TV movie for Lifetime. It's not special enough to stand on its own.This is the type of film that makes a great rental but one you might not have wanted to pay $10 or $12 to see. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable.

If you're going to make a derivative and lazy by the numbers formula flick at least make the scenery and backdrop look good.The bulk of After the Sunset is filmed in the Bahamas.The amazing natural features, pleasant tones and breathtaking peaks, valleys and curves are indeed a worthwhile and pleasing distraction… but enough about Salma Hayek.I flicked through a few quotes after I watched After the Sunset the other night. The best (by far) said "Even with the presence of Salma Hayek the biggest boobs in After the Sunset are Woody Harrelson and Pierce Brosnan". Quite a few of the rest mentioned her beauty specifically as the only thing (or things) the film had going for it.I thought about this while was watching the film and only half agree, for while Salma is astonishing to look at and her cleavage should have received a supporting actor credit I actually think she was miscast here. At 5 foot tall if she's luck and blessed with a near perfect – if gravity defying – hourglass figure Salma is not at home in a bikini, I think a taller woman (eg: Charlise Theron or similar) would be more realistic as the fun loving beach babe in bikinis sidekick to Pierce Brosnan's smooth and erudite master crim.While Salma has held on to my #1 spot for 15 years so far, and seeing her in the bikini, catching some side-boob and generally watching her ass wobble about during the film was of great delight, but I don't think she was right for the film.All that said what is After the Sunset about? Well Max (Brosnan) and Lola (Hayek) are master jewel thieves, having stolen some of the most renowned and valuable diamonds in history.After an impossible and implausible heist in Los Angeles where they hoodwink FBI gem-escort Agent Lloyd (Woody Harrelson) with a hand held remote control device that allows them to commandeer a 4WD with Lloyd in it, the duo head to the Bahamas to see out to their retirement in the luxurious surroundings.Lola embraces the opportunity and spends her days with a variety of activities, and the nights at dinner with new found friends sourced from her daily adventures. Max on the other hand grows tired of the inactivity and refuses to pick up a hobby. He is bored. (Wait up isn't he with Salma Hayek? There's a hobby for the next couple decades right there!) After 6 months or so Agent Lloyd tracks them down, as the Bahamas are out of his jurisdiction he can't nab the pair – aside from that he has no evidence anyway – so he basically reintroduces himself to Max and starts stalking them day and night, shadowing their every move. Lloyd seems convinced that Max and Lola are merely biding their time until their last remaining conquest arrives in town, a diamond on display on a local cruise ship in town for one week only.Don Cheadle pops up as a local crim who thinks Max should steal the diamond for him 'for the good of the town' (though the best actor in the film gets only two scenes), and a local hot cop named Sophie appears so Woody has a reason for his name.You laughing yet? In essence the film is in three parts, the first ridiculous, the middle likable but bland and the final once again ridiculous. Aside from logic holes and miscasting (I've mentioned Salma but Woody Harrelson as a crack FBI agent?) there isn't much to hate about After the Sunset, but the fact is aside from Salma and the cop Sophie there isn't much to like.I just hope all involved got a tan.Final Rating – 5 / 10. Another Paris Hilton film, pretty and calculating on the outside, but vacant and devoid of substance or intelligence.

Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek are diamond thieves, given to involved schemes for pinching extremely live diamonds. Having made a fool of Woody Harrelson's uptight FBI agent, they retire to a tropical island. Harrelson pursues them, and it turns out that another huge diamond happens to be on a luxury liner which is moored nearby for a week....This is unsurprising but enjoyable entertainment, with a couple of fun heists, exotic scenery, decent chemistry between Brosnan and Harrelson, some fun moments in the script, and Salma Hayek prancing about in a small bikini from time to time.There is no vast reason to recommend this movie, but it is a more than adequate time-passer.

"After the Sunset" (2004) directed by Brett Rather ("Rush Hour" trilogy, "Red Dragon") centers on two successful jewel thieves, Max Burdett (Pierce Brosnan in a role that is a homage/parody of Bond. James Bond and Crown. Thomas Crown) and his dazzling girlfriend Lola (if anything, watching Selma Hayek in bikini on the Caribbean beach is well worth the price of renting). The couple retire to the Paradise Island after they creatively stole the second of the three famous Napoleon diamonds. The unlucky FBI agent Stan Lloyd (Woody Harleson) who has been pursuing them for years comes to the island at the same time as the third huge diamond from the collection is put on public display on the new cruise ship that spends few days on the island. As a true artist, Max can't help thinking about possibilities of stealing the diamond, even if he promised Lola to concentrate on writing the wedding vows and to enjoy retirement. Stan is certain that Max won't be able to resist the temptation and would not let him out of sight with the help of tough and sexy local cop named Sophie. There is also Mr. Moore (Don Cheadle), a mafia boss, former Detroit gangster who has the plans of his own for the diamond...I don't know how plausible or original the story is, but if you don't expect too much and are ready to forgive some awkward twists and turns, not very convincing relationships or almost wasted Don Cheadle, the movie is fun to watch. Brosnan and Hayek both look nice; Brosnan and Harleson have few hilarious scenes together; the scenery is gorgeous and the sun shines as bright as the famous diamond. With the running time of just 100 minutes, Action / Comedy / Crime "After the Sunset" is a pleasant light entertainment.5.5-6/10