There are few directors that I rate high when it comes to true innovation and creativity when it comes to filmmaking. Most directors are content to stay within the boundaries set by film schools and the Hollywood status quo. Ranking high on my list is Robert Rodriguez. Like most directors, only a few of his films are really great as far as the entertainment value goes, but unlike other directors ALL of his films show what a creative (and frugal) genius he is when it comes to delivery. Rodriguez also has the distinction of crossing boundaries that very few directors cross. He has made films like “El Mariachi”, “Desperado” and “From Dusk ‘Til Dawn” which are bloody and excessively violent, and turned around and created the “Spy Kids” series, which is enormously popular with younger audiences. What’s next for this guy I have to wonder? In order to properly review his newest opus, “Once Upon a time in Mexico”, I have to first look at “El Mariachi” and “Desperado.”

I mention them again because they make up the first two parts of the trilogy that this film finishes up.

“El Mariachi”, which was released in 1992, was Rodriguez’s first feature length film. He shot it while a film student in Austin for an unheard of $7,000. With little money he created a film that caught the attention of critics worldwide with its frenzied pace and creative storytelling style. And as it told the story of a Mariachi (Carlos Gallardo) who unwittingly gets caught up in a deadly game with drug lords, Rodriguez chose to film the movie in Spanish, even though many of the cast didn’t even speak the language.

I remember the first time I caught “El Mariachi” on video, I was completely blown away by its style and humor. When I heard shortly thereafter that there was a bigger budget sequel being made, “Desperado”, I couldn’t wait to see it. That one I caught in the theatre, and loved every minute of it. From its opening sequence in which Steve Buscemi (can you NOT love a movie that Buscemi is in?) tells a group of guys in a bar about the legendary Mariachi (now played by Antonio Banderas), “Desperado” reeled me in with its perfect blend of music and some of the most stylish camera work I have ever seen. The slow motion shootouts are reminiscent of Peckinpah, but are so extreme and over the top as to be as funny as they are violent.

Both movies tell pretty much the same story, though one is a continuation of the other. The main differences were in the casting. Antonio Banderas replaced the original Mariachi, Carlos Gallardo, in the sequel. I’d get into all the reasons why, but you can find out if you watch the recently released Special Edition DVDs. I had enjoyed Gallardo’s performance so much though, that I was glad to see him turn up in “Desperado” as one of the Mariachi’s cousins.

“Once Upon a Time in Mexico” finally brings our unnamed hero to the end of the trilogy. Taken at face value, it seems like yet another re-hash of the same story. It most definitely isn’t, but even if it was, so what? A movie like this isn’t plot driven. The story, such as it is, really takes a backseat to all the shoot ‘em up action. What Rodriguez delivers with this final chapter is really one big explosion wrapped up around a mishmash of assassination attempts, dirty CIA agents, and drug cartels.

What is added to the mix this time around however is even more star power. Joining returning stars Banderas and Salma Hayek is Johnny Depp and Willem DaFoe. One might even consider adding Mickey Rourke to that list, but I’m not sure he would be considered anything above C-list anymore. But the fact that he is here is still a pretty nice credit.

Depp, who has proven himself to be one the most talented lead character actors working today, once again takes on a role that is not only memorable, but threatens to steal the film. He was half the reason to see “The Pirates of the Caribbean” last year, and he brings at least as much to “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” Here he plays Agent Sands, the aforementioned corrupt CIA operative, who is as slimy as they come.

The new DVD release fro Sony / Columbia Tristar is similar to the recent releases of the other two films in that there are a ton of extras. Interestingly enough, there are two commentaries by Rodriguez. This guy is very talkative and has no problems about filling you in on “how he did this” or how he did that”, and in the end turns this commentary into somewhat of a lesson in filmmaking. The other commentary focuses more on the music and sound. Since Rodriguez handles all of the cinematography, editing and scoring himself, he is a wealth of information, even if he does come from the ‘new school’ of filmmaking.

In his “Ten Minute Film School”, Rodriguez pretty much spends the time selling us the finer points of shooting a film digitally, as opposed to using film. He points out how everything from special effects to editing is so much easier and more efficient. And to show how he can do just about anything in ten minutes, he takes the time to show us how to prepare the pork dish that Depps’ character likes so much in the film.

Rodriguez then takes us on a tour of his home. I’m sure most people will be impressed with this ‘modest’ abode, but I made the mistake of showing this short to some of my filmmaking buddies. I’ve never seen so much drooling in one place, at one time. This hacienda isn’t a home, it’s a studio.

Of the other two main featurettes, one actually focuses a little on the first two movies then goes into a bit of behind the scenes of the making of this new one. It’s fairly lengthy, running just under 20 minutes. The other is taken from a ‘lecture’ Rodriguez did in front of an audience, where he once again extols the virtues of shooting digitally. Added to this are 4 deleted scenes that, for a change, are actually worth checking out.

As far as violent action films go, you can’t go wrong with any of the three movies that make up this trilogy. I love all three, and highly recommend watching them in order. “El Mariachi”, despite its low budget, is a great film. It’s easy to see how it was able to jump-start Rodriguez’s career. “Desperado” is also a terrific, depending on your tastes. “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” just takes everything that made the first two films so good and takes them just that much further. The humor is sometimes a bit twisted, and the violent action sequences are extreme to the point of ridiculous. I really think the trick to enjoying these films is to not take them seriously. Rodriguez certainly doesn’t want you to. He’d rather you just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes, Danny Trejo, Enrique Iglesias, Marco Leonardi, Cheech Marin, Ruben Blades, Willem Dafoe
Extras: Director Commentary, Ten-Minute Film School, Inside Troublemaker Studios, Deleted Scenes, Ten Minute Cooking School, The Anti-Hero’s Journey, “The Good, The Bad, and The Bloody: A look at the Special Effect, DVD-Rom – Test Your Wits In the Shooting Gallery and The Loteria
Specifications: Widescreen (1.78:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Release Date: 1/20/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (Strong Violence, and For Language)
Website

We'll give Once Upon a Time in Mexico a B+.