An Epic Action Movie?
Rodriguez Creates Art from Violence

"We are the sons of Mexico," says Antonio Banderas' character "El Mariachi" in this third installment of Robert Rodriguez's El Mariachi series. As writer, director, editor and musical composer for the film, Rodriguez claims his status as favored son. Taking a leap forward from telling another story of revenge and violence, he finds a way to make it mean something for both himself and his country.

Set several years after Desperado, Once Upon a Time in Mexico begins with a story told in flashback as a man (Cheech Marin) tells a CIA operative, Sands (Johnny Depp), about "El Mariachi" (simply known as "El") whose legendary violence against the drug lords and corrupt military has made him a folk hero. Those who have seen Desperado may remember a similar story told at the beginning of the story, but rather than acting as a harbinger to "El's" violence, Marin's character is merely leading Sands to the enigmatic gunman.

Sands has a job for "El" and he traps the infamous guitar-playing gunman in a deal that cannot be refused. The events that Sands has set in motion are positively Machiavellian in their complexity, with the assassination of a President, the attempted coup by general, and the robbery of $20 million from a cartel kingpin named Barillo (Willem Dafoe). To pull off this job, Sands needs "El" to kill General Marquez (Gerardo Vigil) -- after the coup has killed the president, but before the general can take power. Why will "El" help? Because the general killed him.

Rodriguez uses numerous flashbacks to tell the story of "El" and his Carolina (Salma Hayek) between the end of Desperado and the current events. The story introduces dozens of characters, both good and evil, with a number of surprising guest roles including Rubén Blades as a retired FBI agent and Enrique Iglesias as one of El Mariachi's gunmen.

The over-the-top violence that Rodriguez uses is often shocking and grotesque, but more often than not it is merely unbelievable. I don't mean that in a bad way. It is not that the film becomes less realistic, because it is a fantasy to begin with, a story of a legend, a tall tale. Rather, the violence becomes something one would associate with a comic book, compelling but wholly unbelievable. The violence is merely a part of the story, a means to the end. The story not about creating violence, but living within a world where the violence is inherent in the system.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico is more than just an action movie, although it certainly is that. It is more than dark humor, although Rodriguez's signature wryness abounds. This film is an epic fantasy of a country's need for a hero, and the heroism within a country's own people. Truly an outstanding work, this film merely whets the appetite for more from films from Rodriguez.

MY RATING: 8 out of 10.

RATED:
RUN TIME: 102 min.

An Epic Action Movie? Rodriguez Creates Art from Violence

An Epic Action Movie?
Rodriguez Creates Art from Violence