"Once Upon A Time in Mexico" is that rare action film that grabs you right out of the gate and holds your interest right through the end. The film has style and jumps off the screen at you with its visual fireworks. And most importantly, it somehow manages to overcome Antonio Banderas' wooden persona and remain relevant even after his poorly performed scenes.
"Mexico" picks up where its prequel "Desperado" left off. El Mariachi's wife and child are dead and he is alone wandering the streets of his familial village. He is asked by CIA Agent Sands (Johnny Depp) to kill a man who is attempting a coup, leaving a power vacuum that the U.S. could then use to install a puppet leader. Sound complicated? Ignore the plot, it is simply a vehicle to let Banderas blow things up and kill people, and it works.
But "Mexico" is Depp's movie, and he makes it something worth watching. His incredibly sly and evil performance as Sands leaves you wondering if people like this exist, and simultaneously hoping that you never meet one. He fills the screen with his presence whenever he is on it, and you can't divert your eyes. And to top it all off, he has a bunch of gizmos and gadgets that make him into an evil James Bond.
I have heard it said that between this movie and "Pirates of the Carribean," Depp is "in danger of becoming the next Christopher Walken," as if that is a bad thing. Christopher Walken is incredible, and I for one would welcome Johnny Depp's ascension into that pantheon of always entertaining, sometimes very weird actors. We need Christopher Walken types; the world wouldn't function without them.
Antonio Banderas is back as El Mariachi, the guitar strumming gunslinger from the first "Desperado" flick. Finally, Banderas has found a role that fits his limited skills. He doesn't have to say anything, and simply must walk around and blow things up while holding a big gun. This is just about the only thing this no-talent hack can handle. Luckily the director gave Banderas no lines, or a good movie would have been ruined.
As a fun tangent, if you want to experience true cinematic manic depression, pay close attention to the few scenes where Depp and Banderas act together. Watching a truly skilled actor like Depp try to play off a personality vacuum like Banderas is fascinating.
Rounding out the cast is Salma Hayek. I guess "rounding out" is the wrong term here, because if you blink you miss her. In spite of her name being above the title and her huge picture on the poster, Hayek is in "Mexico" for less than five minutes. But for those five minutes she was great!
With the success of "Desperado," Robert Rodriguez has been given the budget and studio resources he did not enjoy in the first two "El Mariachi" films. The movie is made in a broad, sweeping visual style. It lends a depth and gravity to a movie built around explosions and cool stunts. It lacks the gritty visual style of "Desperado," and does not spend the effort that the previous movie did exploring the character of El Mariachi. It assumes that you have either seen "Desperado" or just want to see Banderas pull some guns out of his guitar.
Quentin Tarantino told Robert Rodriguez on the set of "Desperado" that El Mariachi was his "Dollars" series, referencing Sergio Leone's classic series of westerns. This is clear to those familiar with Leone's work. Rodriguez's style in "Once upon a Time in Mexico" is a direct homage to "Once Upon a Time in the West."
"Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is an exciting movie full of stunning visuals and great stunts. Johnny Depp steals the show, and is well on his way to being a huge box office draw. "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" is definitely worth the price of admission.
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