One of the year's biggest releases from award-winners Michael Zen and All Worlds Video.  The well-rendered story takes us to Spain, at the home of the country's leading matador, Marcello Reeves. The collection of tortured souls who live under his roof would make Remains of the Day look like Romper Room.  Let's see; the chauffeur Hodge Armstrong is desperately in love with the estate's manservant Eduardo.  However, Eduardo is obsessed with Reeves, his womanizing master.  But Reeves is torn between his Catholic faith and his uncontrollable fantasies about men.  Later, American artist Paul Hogan enters the scene and Reeves' condition becomes even worse. Let's not even mention the stable boys and the orgy from hell.

The acting and direction are top-notch. The biggest surprise is Eduardo.  A popular Latino performer, Eduardo shows that he really can act if given the chance to play something other than the gardener or pool boy. (Okay, here, he's a manservant; but that's beside the point.)  Eduardo's performance is simply riveting.  The video's only arguable weakness is that the sex scenes are fleeting at times and could have been better lit.  Most of the effort seems to have gone into the excellent storytelling.  Matador gets pre-nominations across the board: screenplay by Chip Wood, supporting actor (Eduardo), direction (Zen) and great mood music by Michelangelo; as well as art direction and videography (by Mark Kent and Barry Wood).  This must-stock item is soon to be a classic.