Where to watch After the Sunset
3 Stars
Having already in their possession two of the rare Napoleon Diamonds, the masterful jewel thief, Max Burdett, and his seductive partner-in-crime, Lola Cirillo, decide to retire in the sun-kissed Bahamas. However–bent on keeping the precious third and last Napoleon diamond out of Max’s clutches–the maladroit FBI agent, Stan Lloyd, follows them to the tropical haven, convinced that the intrepid duo is planning the next heist: stealing the last fabulous gem being displayed on the island. But, is this truly Max and Lola’s intention? Above all–after a successful and lucrative career in crime–how hard can it be to resist the temptation of one more job?
The commercial and critical success of the Ocean’s Eleven franchise is the clear inspiration for After the Sunset. It is a lushly photographed film with attractive stars, stunning tropical locations, and a cleverly plotted script. The story is the type that could only take place in a Hollywood movie, and while I could see the developments in advance, it was nonetheless entertaining to see them played out.
Pierce Brosnan is great as the confident thief, Harrelson is serviceable as the embarrassed FBI agent, and Hayek is almost a visual effect. Brett Ratner gives the film a brisk pace with a low-key sense of mischief; the juvenile humor doesn’t add much, but the mechanisms of the heist and escape are exciting. After the Sunset isn’t original; Catch of Thief comes to mind, and the laid-back vibe of the characters might be smug, but it’s a gorgeous-looking film with beautiful people doing outrageous things. Sometimes, it’s just the kind of viewing experience I need.
Directed by: Brett Ratner
Written by: Paul Zbyszewski, Craig Rosenberg
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson