A consistently audacious fantasy of sex and violence set in a modern-day Madrid where everyone is ready to surrender to his or her particular passions.
– Charles Taylor,
Salon.com,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
The sincerity here is of a special cracked sort -- the brand that induces laughter but is undiminished by it.
– Hal Hinson,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
Murder, mutilation, suicide and rape...[are] just a few of Matador's popcorn-incompatible themes. But [Almodovar] swirls his cape over these chargers so imaginatively, shamelessly and inventively, his flamboyance wins the day.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
The movie looks terrific and is acted with absolute, straight-faced conviction by the excellent cast...
– Vincent Canby,
New York Times,
30 Aug 2004
rotten:
It's a useful look at this Spanish auteur finding his way but lacks the elan of his later work.