Desperado (1995)

Director:

Robert Rodriguez

Writer (WGA):

Robert Rodriguez (written by)

Release Date:

25 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

He came back to settle the score with someone. Anyone. EVERYONE.

Plot:

A gunslinger is embroiled in a war with a local drug runner.

Plot Keywords:

Mexican Band | Drug Cartel | Bookstore | Drug Lord | Gangster

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Antonio Banderas	...	El Mariachi
Salma Hayek	...	Carolina
Joaquim de Almeida	...	Bucho
Cheech Marin	...	Short Bartender
Steve Buscemi	...	Buscemi
Carlos Gómez	...	Right Hand (as Carlos Gomez)
Quentin Tarantino	...	Pick-Up Guy
Tito Larriva	...	Tavo
Angel Aviles	...	Zamira
Danny Trejo	...	Navajas
Abraham Verduzco	...	Niño
Carlos Gallardo	...	Campa
Albert Michel Jr.	...	Quino
David Alvarado	...	Buddy
Angela Lanza	...	Tourist Girl

Also Known As:

El Mariachi 2 (USA) (working title)
Pistolero (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence, a strong sex sequence and language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | USA:R (certificate #33717) | New Zealand:R18 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Brazil:14 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Philippines:R-18 | Italy:VM14 | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (cut) | Germany:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Ciudad Acuña, Coahuíla, Mexico

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Though Quentin Tarantino wasn't initially cast in the movie, the character he plays was based on him. Steve Buscemi was originally cast in the role, but when Tarantino expressed an interest he was immediately given the part.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When El Mariachi follows the boy and slides his shoulder along the wall, leaving blood smears, in one shot you can see what look like places where smears from a previous take have been not-quite-completely scrubbed off.

Quotes:

El Mariachi: It's easier to pull the trigger than play guitar. Easier to destroy than create.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Duplicate (1998)

Soundtrack:

Chinese Surprize

Stylish

It is well known that Robert Rodriguez is a fan of John Woo, the Hong Kong film director who made the best action flick ever, The Killer (if you haven't experienced it yet, hotfoot it down the video store right now and check it out. You won't be disappointed.) Desperado doesn't quite scale such lofty heights, but it comes closer than most.

Allow me to summarise the plot. A drifter (played by the impeccably sculptured Antonio Banderas) arrives in town in search of his girlfriend's murderer and kills everyone he meets. Roll credits.

Which is kind of like saying Moby Dick is a book about a big whale. It's style which is important here, and it's something this film has in spades. The blistering action scenes are artfully choreographed, but the same could be said of Commando. What gives this film the edge is the Mexican setting - the whole film is choked in dust, and comes complete with greasy villains, decaying cantinas, rough-hewn stone buildings and an irresistible Latin-American soundtrack. There's explosions, gunfights, knife throwing, fisticuffs, and a scene involving two deadly guitar cases which is just so ridiculous that it fits in perfectly. There's precious little acting talent on display and no plot to speak of (though the film does have a *great* sense of humour), but in the end you leave the theatre feeling satisfied without really knowing why. And, in the final reckoning, that's good enough for me.