MASTER criminal Max Burdette (Pierce Brosnan) completes his last job - the heist of one of the legendary Napoleon diamonds from under the nose of the FBI - and sails off into the sunset, bound for a life of luxury on an island paradise with his beautiful lover Lola Cirillo (Salma Hayek).

The FBI agent in charge of guarding the gem, Stan Lloyd (Woody Harrelson), has been trying to bring Max to justice for years and is humiliated by this latest theft.

So he heads off to the same Caribbean resort to make Max's life a misery and ruin any chance of a peaceful retirement.

Stan is convinced that the thief is still up to his old tricks; he feels certain that this so-called 'retirement' is a clever smokescreen for the heist of a second Napoleon diamond, which is on display aboard a luxury liner docked at the islands.

Lola is horrified that Max might be plotting one final crime behind her back; he swears that Stan's suspicions are unfounded.

However, the temptation of another highly lucrative steal is almost too much to bear.

Caribbean heavyweight Kingpin (Don Cheadle) tries to muscle in on the action but Max refuses to enter into a partnership; instead, he tells the crime lord how to pull off the heist.

Stan continues to keep a close eye on Max, but his surveillance operation is continually compromised by a burgeoning romance with sassy local law enforcer Sophie (Naomie Harris).

Cop and crook engage in a steely game of wits and wills, each waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

After The Sunset is a generic heist thriller leavened with some nice comic interludes and a couple of energetic set pieces.

Most of the film's best moments are borrowed wholesale from the Bond back catalogue, including a remote-control car chase, a night time scuba diving expedition and the actual heists.

Brosnan's involvement begs yet more comparisons with 007 and After The Sunset doesn't fare that favourably.

His performance is pretty lifeless and there's scant chemistry with Hayek's sassy partner in crime.

Harrelson is far more entertaining and is arguably the one cast member who seems to be entering into the spirit of the whole enterprise.

He sparks the offbeat relationship with Brosnan's thief to life, seemingly blundering into each trap that Max sets for him.

Ratner's direction doesn't quicken the pulse but his cameras drink in the gorgeous sun-kissed locations and Paul Zbyszewski and Craig Rosenberg's screenplay is largely devoid of logic.

Perhaps Max pilfered that too.

Rating: 5/10