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ONCE
UPON A TIME
IN MEXICO |
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"Banderas Joins A
Civil Rights Protest To
Get On The Bus" |
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Directed by Robert
Rodriguez - Written by
Robert Rodriguez
Starring Antonio
Banderas, Johnny Depp,
Salma Hayek, Mickey
Rourke
Distributed by
Dimension/Sony -
2003 - 120mins - Rated R |
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The time has come. |
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There
are some times when you go to the movies just to have a good time. You
don't want to be intrigued, or challenged. You don't want to cry, of
be left with thoughts for days to come. While these are great aspects
for a film, they are often overwhelming. That's why it's terrific to
see that at least one director out there knows how to make a silly,
near plotless action film, but still make it action-packed, funny, and
overall, a blast to watch.
Writer/director/editor/cameraman/composer/?caterer? Robert Rodriguez
seems to be having a blast with his third film in the "El Mariachi"
series. Everything that can be tossed on is tossed on, every bizarre
situation that can occur occurs, every gun battle, wisecrack, and
insane moment that can be thought of, is in this movie. Along the way,
the plot got lost, but during the movie, only the arties are bound to
notice.
Although filmed on an extremely low budget for a modern action film
($30 million), Rodriguez never lets teh lack of money show. It looks
so much more expensive. Rodriguez has always been the master of
low-budget action films. He made "El Mariachi" for $3000 (finance
mainly by being a medical test subject at UT) and somehow created a
pretty good action flick. He followed it up with the $3 million
"Desperado. With $30 million, Rodriguez is like an inventive little
kid who just opened his Christmas gifts.
The "plot" is about a partially psychopathic CIA agent named Sands
(Johnny Depp), who recruits the now retired El Mariachi assassin
(Antonio Banderas) to prevent an assassination attempt on the
president of Mexico by a drug dealer (Willem Dafoe). El Mariachi must
deal with gunfights, double crosses (roughly 3 or 4 of them), and just
about everything else imaginable to complete his mission. Banderas is
capable in the role, but the real star of the show is Depp, who not
only has more screen time, but flatout steals the show. Sands is one
of the best anti-heroes in recent history, and while much of his
disturbing and violent behavior will upset viewers, his strange quirks
will enthrall them. From eating the same food in every restaurant, to
wearing ridiculous tourist T-Shirts, Depp once again proves himself to
be the best actor of his generation.
Depp's performance aside, it's really just a dumb action film. But
it's an action-packed, fun-as-hell action film. What's better for a
Friday night? Put the DiGiorno in the oven, and pop the top off a
Sunkist. Insert "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" into your DVD player.
Turn off you brain. Have a blast. |
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© Written by Jacob Hall -
Email
Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
Slow
motion gun fights choreographed to Mariachi
music... Antonio Banderas' long hair hanging
dramatically over his face... Salma Hayek's
plump golden breasts heaving as they try to
burst out of her blouse... Bad guys flying
backwards through the air after having been
shot... Chairs shattered over the heads of
nameless extras... Bullets magically missing our
hero while he mows down the bad guys one by
one... yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada
yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada yada
yada. You've seen it all before from the
energetic director afflicted with Attention
Deficit Disorder, Robert Rodriguez.
I have loved most of Rodriguez's work. Along
with Tarantino, he was a breath of fresh air in
the stagnant cinematic climate of the early
1990's. But this effort is so derivative of
everything we have already seen from him. This
film feels like a total and utter sell-out. He
knew this would make money no matter what he
threw on to the screen.
I refuse to recount the plot. It is another
revenge story that is really just an excuse to
show all the things I listed at the beginning of
this review. There is precisely zero originality
displayed here, and audiences, familiar with his
earlier work, will be acutely aware of how
similar this is to 'Desperado', 'El Mariachi'
and 'From Dusk till Dawn'.
Some may claim that they wanted to see the same
old schtick... that Rodriguez delivered what his
true-blue fans wanted to see. But all he has
done here is mimic his earlier films when he
should have let them inspire him into a new
direction. 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico' is about
as inspired as 'Rambo 3' or 'Nightmare on Elm
Street 5'.
I am disappointed in Rodriguez. I thought he was
the definition of originality and flare. I hope
his next effort takes us in an unexpected
direction.
Richard Propes' Comment
n/a
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