Stars: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Ruben Blades, Eva Mendes, Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Cecilia Tijerina, Danny Trejo

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Summary: Sands, a corrupt CIA agent, uncovers a plan to assassinate the President of Mexico. He decides to hire a gunman to kill the assassins before they can carry out the plan...

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 all 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 fed (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.

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Reviewed by: philreyn
Posted on October 20, 2005 12:47 PM

I normally enjoy Robert Rodriguez movies, and was very encouraged when I saw the cast. In viewing, I have to say that I was very disappointed. Some of the action was a little too exaggerated, and the story line very thin. It jumps on the bandwagon of the El Mariachi/Desperado theme, but falls flat. I spent the whole movie waiting for it to pick up, and it didn't. I am very surprised that it is only 101 minutes, as it did seem longer. For me this is the kind of movie you would only ever watch once.

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There's plenty of guns and a few explosions as bodies fly through the air and crash into tables and fruit stands. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, like all Robert Rodriguez movies, is all about the kinetic kick of high-velocity action. Johnny Depp, blasé and whimsical, plays a CIA agent who's drawn guitar-playing gun-slinger Antonio Banderas (long black hair flopping over his face like the ears of a Labrador puppy) into a ridiculously convoluted plot to overthrow the Mexican government. Along for the ride are a craggy-faced rogue's gallery including Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke, Danny Trejo, Ruben Blades, and (to balance things out) the smooth, tantalising complexions of Eva Mendes and Salma Hayek. For sheer trashy fun, Once Upon a Time in Mexicois a step down from its predecessor, but Desperadoset the bar pretty high. For coherent storytelling, look elsewhere, but for action razzle-dazzle, this is your movie. Rodriguez's complete trilogy--El Mariachi, Desperadoand Once Upon a Time in Mexico--can also be found in one DVD box set--Bret Fetzer

Aspect Ratio:	1.78 Wide Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Short Film, Directors Feature Length Commentary, 8 Deleted Scenes, Featurettes, Promotional Trailers
Subtitles:	Dutch, English
Year:	2003
Release Date:	March 8, 2004
Runtime:	101 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C D R 33512
Keywords:	Action, Time, General, Once, Upon, Mexico, Adventure
Genre:	Action/Adventure