Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)
With "Once Upon a Time in Mexico,"
filmmaker Robert Rodriguez proves himself, once and
for all, the heir apparent to Sam Peckinpah. His film
is a bloody, violent, action-packed shoot-'em-up that
cares more about it's grotesqueries than it does story,
logic or character development. That being said, Rodriguez's
film is also vastly entertaining and wildly enthralling.
Some knowledge of Rodriguez's through-line
is helpful but not necessary, it appears. I myself
have seen "El Mariachi" but not "Desperado," so I
am working from a deficit here. Is the storyline involving
Antonio Banderas and Selma Hayek that acts as backdrop
here garnered from "Desperado?" Not knowing what is
flashback and what is in the present tense can be
kind of discombobulating. Eventually, however, it
is all explained by the time the film is over.
Dealing with a grandiose theme of
corruption, Rodriguez engages in a plot that is as
much about politics as it is action. His story follows
a proposed coup to overthrow the president of Mexico
and is seemingly set in modern times. Into the mix
comes a CIA agent, a former FBI agent, a drug cartel
and its cohorts, the president's staff, as well as
El Mariachi and a few of his "friends." Keeping up
with what's going on, who's who and who's conning
who can be quite a burden. Luckily Rodriguez picks
a stellar cast of actors and edits the film with enough
cuts to consistently keep us on our toes. This film
never slows and is never contemplative. It just rolls
and rolls.
The real gem here is, of course,
Johnny Depp. The center of the storm, Depp gives the
film its depth and pacing as much as Rodriguez does.
His CIA agent is an evil genius and a character that
never fails to surprise us. Even when Rodriguez goes
far too far over the top with the character's ultimate
fate, Depp somehow manages to make it work. He's great
here, as good as he's been in any film.
Also of note is Ruben Blades as
an ex FBI agent who adds some heart to the proceedings,
Enrique Iglasias as a young Mariachi, who adds some
heat to the proceedings, and Rodriguez cronies Cheech
Marin and Danny Trejo, who provide laughter and roughness
in the manner to which we (and they) have become accustomed
in a Rodriguez film.
Conversely, Rodriguez's biggest
stars and top-billers add almost nothing to the film.
Banderas practically phones in his performance, although
the director seemingly asks him to do little more
than that anyway. And Hayek is in the movie for maybe
five minutes even though she gets second billing.
Likewise, Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke add almost
nothing to the plot. (Rourke is pretty much just repeating
his character from "Spun" without the drugs being
so prevalent) These characters could have been played
by anyone. Having Dafoe and Rourke in the roles only
serves to try and help us keep the mangled plot straight
in our minds.
"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is
pretty much the logical successor to Rodriguez's previous
body of work. The only surprise in his career has
been the wonderfully fun "Spy Kids" series. Otherwise,
Rodriguez has often been interested in thugs, violence,
gun play and blood. The perfect example of the style
of the filmmaker comes in mid-section of this film
where Johnny Depp walks nonchalantly through the kitchen
of a restaurant and kills a cook. Shots are fired
quickly, squibs explode and a glop of blood lands
directly, albeit inadvertently, on the camera's lens.
Rodriguez does not cut the scene, re-shoot the scene
nor does he revel in it.
In the end, his camera is as unfazed
by the blood as his cold-blooded CIA agent is.
Note:
Also with Eva Mendes.
Filmed in Mexico. Rodriguez resides
in Austin, Texas.
The opening credits include the
wording "A Robert Rodriguez Flick" and "Shot, Chopped
and Scored by Robert Rodriguez."
Quentin Tarantino is thanked in
the end credits. He apparently gave Rodriguez the
title.
Many actors in the film help with
the music. Hayek sings a song. Depp composed his characters
theme music.
Depp was only on set for nine days
but after his part was shot, he stayed on and even
asked to do more. It was his idea to play the priest.
That was indeed Rourke's own Chihuahua.
The film was also known as "El Mariachi
3" during production.
Filmed in 2001 (before "Spy Kids
3").
Viewed in Austin in September 2003.
