Today’s quick review: Desperado. Ever since gangsters injured him and killed the woman he loved, an ex-mariachi (Antonio Banderas) has been traveling from town to town, killing the men responsible. Now, with the help of a close friend (Steve Buscemi), he has tracked down their leader, Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida). But when dealing with Bucho’s men proves to be a challenge, the vigilante must rely Carolina (Salma Hayek), a bookstore owner, for help.
Desperado is an action movie written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Desperado is the sequel to El Mariachi, following the nameless title character as he takes his revenge for the events of the first film. The sequel trades the minimalism and understated humor of the first film for gun-toting action, larger-than-life characters, and absurd situations. The shift will appeal to fans of tongue-in-cheek action but less so to fans of crime dramas.
Desperado takes the world established in El Mariachi to new extremes. The protagonist, now played by Antonio Banderas, has become a notorious killer, feared by criminals around Mexico. The stunts are bigger this time around, with plenty of bullets, gore, and explosions. Desperado also benefits from a more memorable cast, including Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, Cheech Marin, and Quentin Tarantino, who help give the film its flavor.
Desperado does have a few limitations to temper its strengths. The film takes a brute force approach to action that opts for volume over finesse, with stunts that are more notable for their energy than their execution. Desperado also sacrifices what dramatic weight El Mariachi had in favor of more action and a fresh infusion of black comedy. This does lead to a more entertaining movie overall, but at the cost of the first film’s subtleties.
Fans of the stranger side of the action genre will want to give Desperado a shot. The combination of a colorful cast, a chaotic setup, and plenty of violence makes it an entertaining watch for the right viewer. But its loose style, thin plot, and lack of earnest drama mean that it’s outclassed by action films that have a better balance of style and substance. Those looking for a cinematic masterpiece will want to keep looking.
For violent action in the same style, try the work of Quentin Tarantino. For an even more stylized action movie from Robert Rodriguez, try Sin City. For a budget crime movie with a subtler blend of action and offbeat humor, try The Boondock Saints.
7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for straightforward, violent entertainment.