Dir.
Robert Rodriguez, 2003, Mexico/ US, 102 mins, some subtitles
Cast:
Antonio Banderas, Johnny Depp, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, Eva Mendes
Violence and corruption are threatening to destroy the fragile peace of Mexican society. Renegade CIA agent Sands (Johnny Depp) decides to enlist the help of legendary gunfighter 'El Mariachi' (Antonio Banderas) to protect the life of the president and restore stability. Though reluctant to once more take up his gun, El Mariachi is drawn into the fight - driven by the desire to avenge the death of his wife, Carolina (Salma Hayek). Joined by fellow 'guitarists' Fideo (Marco Leonardi) and Lorenzo (Enrique Iglesias), El Mariachi takes on Barrillo (Willem Dafoe), the notorious cartel boss at the root of the unrest in the country.
According to Robert Rodriguez, the impetus for his new film came from Quentin Tarantino, who saw a parallel between the Mariachi films and the Dollars trilogy of Sergio Leone. What was needed, he thought, was a third instalment - an epic. Tarantino even supplied the reverential title - Once Upon a Time in Mexico. The result of Tarantino's encouragement and Rodriguez' technical and creative talent (writer, director, editor and musical composer) is a fast and exciting, if slightly confused, comic-strip western.
Rodriguez' comic book sensibility is evident throughout his cast of characters - archetypes, all distinctly and stylishly visualised, but lacking in any depth or emotion. But where this has failed in other recent Hollywood action movies, it works here thanks to Rodriguez' inventive action sequences, fantastic Mexican setting and sense of humour.
Banderas returns as Rodriguez' lonely hero, but this time the director has widened his focus to include a number of other players who compete for our interest. Somewhat predictably, Johnny Depp steals the show as CIA agent Sands, revelling in yet another of the quirky comic roles with which he is becoming so familiar. Most memorable of these are his recent performance as Captain Jack Sparrow Pirates of the Caribbean and his doubling-up as vicious Lt. Victor and outrageous transvestite Bon Bon in Julian Schnabel's Before Night Falls (2000). By rights, Depp's exuberant camp should be growing tired by now, but it's still working and enjoyable to watch. Almost every time we see Sands he is wearing a different tacky slogan T-shirt (apparently Depp's own tourist buys). It's just a gimmick, but quite a funny one, and it keeps our attention. Rodriguez provides him with all the best lines too, which always helps. Willem Dafoe, on the other hand, is given very little to work with as evil cartel boss Barrillo, the film's weakest character. Salma Hayek (who was deeply involved in Frida at the time of filming) is also wasted. Carolina (Hayek) appears only in flashback, and apart from one incredible and original action sequence in which she and Banderas escape from a hotel window whilst handcuffed together, she has very little to do here. But the action rarely stops long enough for the weakness of these characters to be too much of a problem, and Mickey Rourke, Cheech Marin and Danny Trejo also offer good distraction in supporting roles.
Although it is difficult to compare Rodriguez 'epic' with his brilliant low-budget debut El Mariachi, it is certainly miles faster and funnier than Desperado. And like most good sequels, Once Upon a Time in Mexico stands alone and is just as enjoyable if you missed its predecessors.
Elizabeth Griffin
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