Once Upon a Time in Mexico

2003 Action/Adventure

Director Robert Rodriguez returns to the characters of his breakthrough hits El Mariachi and Desperado in this grand scale south-of-the-border action-adventure saga. Sands (Johnny Depp) is a rogue CIA agent who is working in cahoots with Mexican officials who've caught wind of a plan by corrupt military leader General Marquez (Gerardo Vigil) and ruthless drug kingpin Barillo (Willem Dafoe) to assassinate Mexico's president (Pedro Armendáriz Jr.). Sands needs to recruit a gunman to take out Barillo's assassins before they can complete their mission, and through barman Belini (Cheech Marin), Sands learns of El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), a fabled musician turned vigilante with a remarkable talent for violence, and a score to settle with Marquez. El Mariachi is living quietly in hiding after the death of the woman he loved, Carolina (Salma Hayek), but Sands lures him back into action through the promise of a final showdown with his nemesis Marquez, forcing El Mariachi to retrieve his guitar case (containing a mighty arsenal) and once again do battle against the lawless. Robert Rodriguez not only directed Once Upon a Time in Mexico, but he wrote the screenplay, handled the camera work, edited the film, and composed the musical score. more..

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek,Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, Eva Mendes

Reviews

  • Excellent.

    - The San Francisco Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • Affectionately conceived, imaginatively staged and highly entertaining.

    - The Hollywood Reporter

    26 April 2013

  • I understood the general outlines of the story, I liked the bold strokes he uses to create the characters, and I was amused by the camera work, which includes a lot of shots that are about themselves.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    26 April 2013

  • In its wildly overwrought, burrito-Western way, is about as close to a home movie as you're likely to see in a megaplex.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    26 April 2013

  • You don't want to miss Depp in this movie -- he knocks it out of the park.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Actor in a Film

    Imagen Foundation Awards (2004)

  • Best Original Song

    Satellite Awards (2004)

  • Choice Breakout Movie Star - Female

    Teen Choice Awards (2004)

     
  • Best High Work

    World Stunt Awards (2004)