RETRO MOVIE REVIEW: Desperado (1995)

Although I was aware of it since El Mariachi, my fascination with the work of Robert Rodriguez began with its sequel, Desperado. The second film in what would become the Mexico trilogy, it also remains to this day the most fascinating of the three. Desperado embodies many of Rodriguez’s early influences—the Western genre, dark and gritty superheroes, and gun fu (which was growing in popularity during the mid 1990’s). At the same time, it is an iconic film in its own right, featuring Rodriguez’s most enduring heroic character as well as the breakout of two of the actors he is most associated with.

While Desperado is a direct sequel to El Mariachi, Robert Rodriguez made this movie a transition between the independent film style of the original to a Hollywood big-budget production. The main character and concept remains the same—a musician loses his playing hand and the woman he loves, starting a roaring rampage of revenge through the Mexican underworld. However, the main character is completely recast, with Antonio Banderas taking over the iconic role of El Mariachi. The character of the Mariachi is redefined as well, becoming more of a mythic figure in the style of Batman or the Punisher. At the same time, Banderas’s Mariachi still has that core of emotional vulnerability, having lost his livelihood as a musician and also enduring physical wounds during the course of his battles with the Mexican mob. The cold open, narrated by Steve Buscemi’s character, builds the legendary nature of El Mariachi and selling the audience immediately on how he has changed since the first film.

The story of Desperado is extremely well-written, and in this respect, it remains my favorite of the Mexico Trilogy. One point I appreciate about this movie is that Rodriguez uses the Buscemi character to question the Mariachi’s mission. In these kinds of films, it’s generally assumed that the quest for revenge will eventually lead to satisfaction and closure. However, this movie raises a counter-argument, pointing out that the Mariachi will still be a wounded character regardless of whether Bucho dies or not. Moreover, the quest for vengeance has consequences, leading to the deaths of the Mariachi’s friends and threatening the life of his new love interest several times. The twist at the end of the film is foreshadowed well during the movie, with Rodriguez playing his hand subtly in the way it’s set up and revealed. In hindsight, it also is the perfect twist, as it casts the Mariachi’s quest for vengeance in a different light, fueling his already existing doubts planted earlier in the film. In the world of El Mariachi, there is no pure and noble path, and vengeance has a heavier cost than anyone ever imagines. This leads to an action film that raises questions about the hero’s quest and the nature of vengeance, and whether satisfaction is even worth the price.

Rodriguez is one of the best action directors in the business, and he’s only gotten better since this film. The shadow of his later films hovers over Desperado in hindsight, because they make this movie look a little amateurish by comparison. In fairness, this is only by comparison, and the youthful energy that Rodriguez brings to this movie overcomes any technical faults. The shots generally are swift and flow well, though there are a few points where the movie would have benefited from more careful editing. The fight sequences are more in the gun fu style, flashy and visually compelling, grounded less in realism than many modern action films. However, that is to the movie’s benefit, as the big set pieces are fun to watch, even with crazy elements like guitar case machine guns. This is a slick, stylish, and over the top film that embraces what it is, and it works to the movie’s benefit.

The casting of this film works on every level. Although fans of the original El Mariachi film may take issue with the recasting, Antonio Banderas is such a good choice that he defines the role of the Mariachi to this day. He looks imposing and dangerous, but he’s also a haunted and romantic figure with layers to him. Although the Mariachi is driven by vengeance, Banderas also brings out the softer side of the character, especially in his interactions with the young boy with the guitar. Salma Hayek broke out in this film, and understandably so—she has a solid chemistry with Banderas, and she brings a strength of character to Carolina. Perhaps the standout performance, though, is Joaquim de Almeida as the villain Bucho; he’s an entertaining villain to watch, but he also has depth and a compelling backstory. De Almeida was brought in after the passing of Raul Julia, but his performance oozes charisma and his Bucho is a likable antagonist. Steve Buscemi plays the recognizable Buscemi stock character, but it works in this film; he makes sense as a comic sidekick who realizes that he’s out of his depth. Danny Trejo also broke out in this film, and although he plays a minor antagonist, his menace and sheer physical presence makes him memorable in this role. Even the supporting cast are all memorable and interesting, from Quentin Tarantino as a drug buyer to Cheech Marin as the ill-fated bartender at the Tarasco Bar. It’s also nice to see Carlos Gallardo, the previous Mariachi, in a minor role that’s worthy of his efforts in the last film.

Although all of the Mariachi films are worth watching, Desperado stands as the best of them even to this day. This is a film made by a young and ambitious director who was only beginning to see what he could do as a filmmaker, with an energy and verve we don’t see often enough in modern action films. The cast is nothing short of spectacular, and the action sequences are fun, clever, and memorable. Though he’s done many great movies since, his movie still ranks among my favorite Robert Rodriguez films, and it still stands up quite well to a modern viewing.

Score: 4.5/5

RETRO MOVIE REVIEW: Desperado (1995)

Writer/Director: Robert Rodriguez

Cast: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Joaquim de Almeida, Steve Buscemi, Cheech Marin, Danny Trejo, Tito Larriva, Quentin Tarantino, Carlos Gallardo

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Steve Sellers

Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).