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"THE TAILOR OF PANAMA"
(2001) (Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Heavy Moderate Extreme Mild Mild
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Minor None Mild None Extreme
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Extreme Heavy Moderate Mild Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: Spurred on by a banished British spy who wants information on anything juicy occurring in his new jurisdiction, an ex-con turned tailor begins weaving various tall tales that soon spiral out of control.
PLOT:
Just after the handover of the Panama Canal from America back to Panama, British spy Andy Osnard (PIERCE BROSNAN) has been banished to the country by his boss, Luxmore (DAVID HAYMAN), for past indiscretions with various officials' wives and mistresses. Needing an "in" with some British local so as to be in touch with the country's various high level activities, Andy picks Harry Pendel (GEOFFREY RUSH), an ex-con who's reinvented himself in the Central American land as a tailor to the rich and powerful.

Although Harry is reluctant to help, he could use the money that Andy offers for information to pay off his debt on a farm, and worries that the spy might tell his beautiful wife, Louisa (JAMIE LEE CURTIS), or kids, Mark (DANIEL RADCLIFFE) and Sarah (LOLA BOORMAN), about his checkered past. With his dead Uncle Benny (HAROLD PINTER) serving as his imagined mentor and muse, Harry starts looking for anything juicy, but finding nothing, decides to make up things to appease Andy's appetite for information.

Accordingly, he begins showing Andy around, introducing him to both his assistant, Marta (LEONOR VARELA), and old friend, Mickie Abraxas (BRENDAN GLEESON), both of whom he states were anti-Noriega freedom fighters and are current members of something called the Silent Opposition. Meanwhile, Andy checks in at the British embassy where he meets Ambassador Maltby (JOHN FORTUNE) and Francesca (CATHERINE McCORMACK), an employee he quickly puts the moves on, but no one there has heard of the secret organization.

As Andy begins a passionate affair with Francesca, and Louisa becomes increasingly suspicious of Harry's peculiar behavior and the time he spends with Andy, the tailor starts telling even taller tales that soon grab the attention of various British officials, the Pentagon, and then involve a large sum of money that everyone wants a piece of.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Unless they're fans of someone in the cast or the spy genre, it doesn't seem very likely.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For strong sexuality, language and some violence.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • PIERCE BROSNAN plays a corrupt spy and womanizer who's only looking out for himself and is demeaning toward others. He uses strong profanity, smokes, gets rough with Louisa, and has an affair with Francesca.
  • GEOFFREY RUSH plays a tailor working in Panama with a checkered past who uses strong profanity and makes up lies of political unrest to get money from Andy.
  • JAMIE LEE CURTIS plays Harry's wife who becomes increasingly suspicious of him and Andy and briefly uses strong profanity.
  • BRENDAN GLEESON plays a friend of Harry's, an ex-rebel who's apparently a drunk and uses strong profanity.
  • CATHERINE McCORMACK plays an embassy worker who has a torrid sex affair with Andy.
  • LEONOR VARELA plays Pendel's assistant, a former revolutionary who has a scarred face, briefly uses profanity and doesn't like Andy.
  • JOHN FORTUNE plays the British ambassador in Panama who takes an interest in Andy's reporting and overall plan.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a quick summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity is listed as extreme due to the use of at least 28 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also used. Sexually related dialogue is also present, with some of it being explicit/graphic. Various sexual encounters are seen and include nudity, movement and related sounds (with one of them being a porno tape showing a threesome). A woman's bare breasts are seen on several occasions as well, while a scene takes place in a gay bar where some kissing and brief nudity are seen.

    Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes and some tense family moments grow between a husband and wife when she becomes suspicious of his behavior. Violence consists of an off-screen suicide, a flashback to some people being beaten (with some bloody results), a man roughing up a woman, and some brief and faceless military style violence.

    Several characters smoke and/or drink (with one apparently being an alcoholic) and there's talk of drug dealers and dealing, but we don't see any of that. If the above doesn't completely address your concerns about the film and its appropriateness for anyone in your home, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed content listings for more specific examples of what occurs in it.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • Andy is warned about drug trafficking in Panama.
  • A person is briefly seen drinking from a bottle.
  • People drink in a hotel.
  • There's talk that a character is involved in drugs.
  • Andy and Pendel have drinks where Mickie is somewhat intoxicated and makes a scene because of his condition.
  • It's said that the locals refer to some high-rises as the cocaine towers (because of what was used to pay for them or what occurs in them).
  • Mickie drinks some liquor in his place.
  • People have wine with their meals, including Francesca and Andy.
  • Andy and Pendel have beer. They later have wine in another scene.
  • Andy drinks from a flask that he then hands to Louisa, and she drinks from it. They later drink from the same flask again.
  • We see some wine out next to Andy and Francesca.
  • People have drinks in a club.
  • A person guzzles down a drink on a plane.
  • Several men have drinks.
  • Mickie drinks while driving a car.
  • Some men drink.
  • We see Mickie packing away some bottles of booze.
  • Various people drink.
  • Andy has drinks with various people.
  • Andy has a drink with his boss.
  • Andy's boss pours himself a drink.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • We see that Marta has some bad scars on the side of her face.
  • We see a brief flashback to Marta's face being bloody, and then see another one where her face, hands and clothes are bloody from being beaten by others.
  • We hear Andy urinating.
  • Andy has a little bit of a bloody lip after Louisa bites him there.
  • We see that a man committed suicide via a gunshot wound and see lots of dried blood down his shirt and some on his head.
  • Pendel has a few bloody scrapes on his face.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • We hear that Andy has a reputation for bedding various officials' wives and/or mistresses and we learn that he's a corrupt spy, with others following him down that same latter path.
  • We hear that Pendel helped burn down a building (arson) to help someone collect insurance money.
  • Andy mentions that Marta has a great body but then makes a mean comment about having her (scarred) face away from you when you're "f*cking her." Later, someone asks, "How can you f*ck that faceless half-breed?"
  • To get money from Andy, Pendel begins making up conspiracy type stories and then even secretly photographs his wife's work to give to Andy.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • Scenes listed under "Violence" may also be unsettling or tense to some viewers.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • Machine guns: Carried by guards.
  • Handgun: Used by a man to commit suicide off camera.
  • Explosives: Dropped on a city causing some property damage.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Who the f*ck are you?" "I don't give a f*ck about…" "F*cking dynamite," "I'm tired of your f*cking bullsh*t," "Who gives a f*ck?" "What the f*ck /are they doing/do you want?" "F*ckers," "You look f*cked out," "F*ck off," "Bullsh*t," "Oh sh*t," "Piece of sh*t," "Don't be a c*nt," "Bloody" (adjective), "Losers," "Balls" (testicles), "Are you pulling my pisser?" and "Piss."
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • A mild amount of such music plays in the film.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 28 "f" words (3 used sexually), 14 "s" words, 1 slang term each using male and female genitals ("pr*ck" and "c*nt"), 1 slang term for breasts ("t*ts"), 4 asses (1 used with "hole"), 3 uses of "Oh God" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes," "God," "Jesus" and "Swear to God" as exclamations.
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • While fitting him for his pants, Pendel asks Andy if he hangs to the left or right (as far as his genitals are concerned - but we don't see anything).
  • Andy compares something to oral sex, and then adds that someone has to do it.
  • A woman shows some cleavage.
  • Andy spots a woman on the dance floor and states that he could "f*ck that."
  • We briefly see Louisa's bare breasts while she's in bed with Pendel.
  • There's talk that Andy had an affair (or affairs) with various mistresses and/or wives of powerful people.
  • Andy makes some sexual references to Francesca (something about a pokey side and something else about something being tight from lack of use).
  • Andy mentions that Marta has a great body but then makes a mean comment about having her (scarred) face away from you when you're "f*cking her."
  • We briefly see some hookers on the street.
  • Andy watches a porno tape/TV program that shows a sexual encounter including movement and shots of a bare butt and breasts. Meanwhile, across the way and in another building, we see (from a distance) a woman having sex on top of a man with movement (we see her bare back during this). Back on the TV, we see an out of focus threesome (2 women, 1 man) cavorting/rolling around on a bed (and see more bare butts and breasts). During this, Andy says, "Look at these t*ts…Yum, yum."
  • Andy keeps coming on to Francesca, telling her they can wait or go ahead and have an affair now. They then dance and kiss and the scene then cuts to them in a bedroom where he nuzzles her neck. We then see her having sex on top of him as both sit upright (in a head and shoulders shot that shows/implies movement but no nudity and no sounds). We then later see another head and shoulders shot of them having sex and climaxing with related sounds.
  • Louisa shows cleavage.
  • Andy acts seductive toward Louisa, first running his hand along her back and then moving in close as both swim in a body of water. We then hear sexual sounds, but it's Andy and Francesca having sex with him on top of her (in a mostly head and shoulders shot) that shows movement and her bare breasts. They're interrupted by a phone call and while he talks on it (out of breath), she climbs on top of his back, and kisses his neck.
  • Andy and Pendel go to a gay club where we briefly see some men kissing along with part of a man's bare butt in his transvestite outfit. The two of them then dance, but do so in order to talk without fear of being bugged or overheard (there's nothing going on between them).
  • We see Andy and Francesca in bed again, but this time they're just sleeping.
  • Someone asks Pendel, "How can you f*ck that faceless half-breed?" (about Marta).
  • Louisa begins to think that Harry is seeing someone else and that creates some tension. When she later hears a call from Marta to Harry, Louisa asks if he loves Marta. He says that he does, but that he's never made love to her.
  • We see Louisa's bare breasts as Andy puts his hand down inside her dress to caress them (she then slaps him).
  • SMOKING
  • Andy smokes around 10 times, while various miscellaneous characters smoke cigarettes and some cigars in various scenes.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Louisa begins to think that Harry is seeing someone else and that creates some tension. When she later hears a call from Marta to Harry, Louisa asks if he loves Marta. He says that he does, but that he's never made love to her. In the end, however, Louisa accepts him back.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • The world of spies and spying and how much corruption occurs within it.
  • Andy and Pendel go to a gay club where we briefly see some men kissing (and Andy and Pendel aren't gay).
  • The state and history of Panama and the Panama Canal.
  • VIOLENCE
  • We briefly see a man struggling with a woman on the street as the camera passes by them.
  • We see brief footage of people breaking glass on cars and then being hit by others, as well as an explosion/fire and the results of that.
  • We see a brief flashback to Marta's face being bloody and then see a flashback to her being hit with sticks and then the same happening to Mickie.
  • Pendel tries to go at a man who made a disparaging remark about Marta, but is restrained.
  • Louisa slaps Andy after he puts his hand down inside her dress to caress her bare breasts. He then pins her to the bed where he kisses her, but she then bites his lip, drawing blood. He then slaps her to the bed.
  • We see that a man committed suicide via a gunshot wound and see lots of dried blood down his shirt and some on his head.
  • Harry partially sideswipes a vehicle on the road.
  • Bombs explode in a city.



  • Reviewed March 7, 2001 / Posted March 30, 2001

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