With ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez follows the further adventures of El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), the guitar-and-gunslinging hero who has been leading a quiet life, but longs to get revenge for the murder of his love (Salma Hayek). When quirky CIA agent Sands (Johnny Depp) roots out El Mariachi for a special assignment, he comes out with pistols blazing. Soon, a retired FBI agent (Ruben Blades), a drug kingpin (Willem Dafoe), a criminal on the run (Mickey Rourke), and a double-dealing federale (Eva Mendes) are all in on the action, which involves a plot to kill the Mexican president and shift the balance of power in Mexico.
Handling the writing, direction, cinematography, and just about everything else, Rodriguez has crafted a tribute to the spaghetti Western films of Sergio Leone by placing his outlaw hero from DESPERADO and EL MARIACHI in an epic setting populated by numerous characters. Although it can be challenging to keep track of the unfolding subplots, the scenes involving Depp's badly dressed secret agent are the most intriguing and entertaining. Meanwhile Banderas eases back into the lead as the vengeful Mariachi, and Hayek and Blades make the most of their small but significant roles.
Theatrical Release: SEPTEMBER 10, 2003
DVD Features:
Note: This release is in the Universal Media Disc format for Sony PSP players only.
Widescreen - 1.78
Audio:
Dolby Digital 2.0 - English, French
Subtitles - English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai - Optional
Director of Photography
Robert Rodriguez: Director/Screenwriter
Review 1:
"...The joy that Rodriguez takes in each shot is palpable..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.128 09/12/2003
Review 2:
"...Mr. Rodriguez has a feverish, inventive eye, and an ability to infuse digital video, so often flat and grainy, with uncommon depth and luster..."
Source: New York Times
p.E12 09/12/2003
Review 3:
"...[An] entertainingly quirky film....A swaggering fantasy that pays homage to spaghetti Westerns such as Sergio Leone's THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY..."
Source: USA Today
p.9E 09/12/2003
Review 4:
"...What bubbles beneath all of Rodriguez's work is an impatient joy in the act of filmmaking..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.32 09/12/2003
Review 5:
"...You don't want to miss Depp in this movie -- he knocks it out of the park..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.125 10/02/2003
Review 6:
"...A sprawling actioner....With a perversely brilliant ensemble cast..."
Source: Movieline's Hollywood Life
p.114 09/01/2003
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