The saga of the mythic
guitar-slinging hero, El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), continues in Robert
Rodriguez’s bravura action epic Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
The new adventure is set against a
backdrop of revolution, greed and revenge. Haunted and scarred by tragedy, El
Mariachi (Banderas) has retreated into a life of isolation. He is forced out of
hiding when Sands (Johnny Depp), a corrupt CIA agent, recruits the reclusive
hero to sabotage an assassination plot against the president of Mexico, which
has been conceived by the evil cartel kingpin Barrillo (Willem Dafoe).
But El Mariachi also has his own
reasons for returning – blood revenge.
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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