Desperado (1995)

 

Director Robert Rodriguez already made some waves with his low budget 'El Mariachi', but when Hollywood finally took legit notice, he decided that film could use a reboot/sequel with a considerably bigger budget and of course bigger names attached. The essence is still pretty much the same, only everything is ramped up to ten and it is absolutely glorious.

We still follow the exploits of a nameless mariachi, who has had his left hand shot by a gangster and now he can't play anymore. He is on the warpath and is looking for a mob boss called Bucho whom he deems responsible for all his misery.

Yes, Bucho was also responsible for the death of the woman El Mariachi loved. 

In order to find out where this Bucho is, he uses an American as his scout which eventually leads to one of the greatest shootouts in film history in a dingy bar run by Cheech Marin. I am not exaggerating and there is little hyperbole present: this shootout is brilliant. Rodriguez knows his action and it is vibrant, pulsating and throbbing and all this is way too reminiscent of a certain member. 

That derailed quickly.

El Mariachi does get wounded and is taken in by Carolina, the owner of a local bookstore annex café and of course she is the new love interest. She is played by Salma Hayek after all. Who wouldn't fall in love with her? Including the ladies. 

Woof.

Then it's just more destruction, wanton or otherwise on the way to the final confrontation with Bucho, who turns out to be someone rather unexpected for our hero (of sorts). 

Is this revenge western high on plot and concept? Heck no. But it delivers more than it promises, with electrifying performances by Banderas, Hayek, Buscemi and a hilarious cameo by Quentin Tarantino himself. Most of the side characters and even the main villain are a bit on the mediocre side, but when your leads shine as brightly as they do here, that is kind of par for the course. 

Mindless fun? You bet your sweet backside it is! But since when has that ever been a problem?