The idea to the story surrounds the couple Max Burdett (Pierce Brosnan) and Lola Cirillo (Salma Hayek) who live on the edge stealing highly guarded jewelry.  The affectionate companionship that these two have is suppose to engulf both of them and seems tense, ludicrous, and hollow.  This might be one reason for why the film never takes off, as much of the story surrounds how they feel for one another.  It is true that there are a couple of intimate scenes, yet these too feel a little awkward, as this is not the focus of the film.

The film opens with such a situation where the FBI agent Stan Lloyd (Woody Harrelson) has a strong intuition that Max will attempt to steal a colossal diamond that he is transporting.  In order to prevent Max from stealing the diamond the FBI has him under surveillance, but to little aid as he turns the situation into an extraordinary robbery where the FBI looks like kindergarteners versus adults.  During the heist the audience gets to see a solid idea, which is truly depicted in the Ratner spirit that many have been accustomed to through Rush Hour.  Yet, the film is very unlike Rush Hour, as After the Sunset also attempts to play on humor, but does not succeed and feels awkward, unfocused, and untimely.

After the heist, during which Max got shot, the couple retires to a comfortable life in the Bahamas.  Initially, Max and Lola enjoy retirement through fine dining and tender days in the sun.  However, too much of something good can also be spoiled if one loses the meaning of life, and one only tries to relax.  Restlessness begins to grow within Max while Lola picks up several hobbies such as tennis, carpentry, and snorkeling.  One day out of the blue Stan appear in Max’s house, as he suspects that Max will plan a heist for the third and final Napoleonic diamond.  A light is born within Max, as Stan draws his attention to this grand diamond and maybe Max will make a comeback from his retirement.

After the Sunset brings several stimulating ideas to the audience that Ratner could have expanded on such as the restlessness of retirement, Max’s love for Lola, the comeback from retirement, the heist, the relationship between Max and Stan, and much more.  Yet, this potpourri of themes and plots is turned into a jumbled mishmash of notions and thoughts that are never drawn in a distinct direction.  This leaves the viewer with much to think about, but nothing to conclude, as nothing is truly relevant to any of the characters.

After the Sunset has many good qualities such as wonderful cinematography, good sound, and good casting that unfortunately does not bring together a solid cinematic experience.  There is too much going on in the film, which makes it a little ditsy and unfocused.  Despite the unfocused storyline the audience gets to experience Ratner’s potential as a filmmaker, as he does generate an atmosphere of brilliance that makes the audience want the story to succeed.  This film is worth seeing and experiencing for its stunning atmosphere, yet it misses some of the crucial elements to be a truly good film.

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USA

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