Desperado

Don't mess with el Mariachi puñeta!

Desperado is a very interesting piece of film work. This was my first movie watching Spanish actor Antonio Banderas in a rated R movie, and I really wasn't sure what to expect - boy was I surprised. This movie is highly entertaining and packs a punch in multiple genres. For the most part, this is one big shoot 'em up movie. Although much of the action scenes are the same, they still somehow end up being exciting to watch no matter how many times you've seen it. This is not your regular western, where people have their little revolvers and twirl them with one finger, no. This is about a man getting revenge for the sake of his loved one using any weapon he can find.

As I said before, Antonio Banderas stars as El Mariachi who looks to find revenge on the man who hired a couple of thugs to kill his wife and permanently damage his playing hand. Co-starring with Banderas is actress Salma Hayek. Although back then she was not well known, this is the film that started her career. I think these two actors really do a good job. Not only do they work well together, but also they look good together.

Part time Musician and...

...Full time avenger.

Making things even more awesome are the action scenes. The way El Mariachi fires upon the bad guys, the way he leaps and rolls; is just really exciting to watch. The style of the film is done differently than the usual action movies. Out of all the people that are killed by El Mariachi, you would almost think that he's villain, but he's not. The bad guy's henchmen just keep getting in between the cross hairs.

Although much of this movie is shooting people, Banderas has many moments of comedy. And it's not like, "Haha! That was a good joke". It's more of, "These guys better watch out, because they don't know who they're messing' with". El Mariachi says it himself, he's just looking for a man. And when he says the man's name, everyone starts shooting at him! He's just looking for a certain guy, why does it matter to them- ...Oh well...that's their fault. Those guys got what was coming for them. They just didn't know that.

Finally for the music used in this movie was by Los Lobos. I think Lobos did a great job with the musical score. With the Hispanic tone in every part of the music, it really gets the blood flowing. Because the story is about El Mariachi, it has a lot of guitar. That is what gives the film its zest. 

El Mariachi is not alone.

All bad guys wear expensive suits.

Director Robert Rodriguez has recreated El Mariachi and made it into a high spirited "boom" "pow" movie that can make the viewer start jumping out of their seat. With fun performances, loud action and great music, this film is bound to get the attention it wants. 

This one is my favourite of the "El Mariachi" series because it tells the best story without being too over the top or too pretentious. The first movie is good despite the resources Rodriguez had to work with but, it still could have been more action packed and had less silliness in it. "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" was good too, still I think it went too over the top even by "El Mariachi" standards. "Desperado" is an excellent part of the "El Mariachi" series. Though, I've always wondered why being a mariachi is such a deadly occupation in this series of film. It is a great shoot 'em up, tells a great story, and is cheesy only to a point where it puts a smile on your face.  

Tough Mexican citizens.

Blazing couple.

Desperado's Trivia

Kinky Crew.

 

Director Robert Rodriguez said in his DVD commentary that the day they shot Salma Hayek's love scene with Antonio Banderas, the entire crew showed up to see it.

Buscemi's part.

Steve Buscemi's character's name is "Buscemi" because the part was written with him in mind.

Tarantino's part.

Though Quentin Tarantino wasn't initially cast in the movie, the character he plays was based on him. Steve Buscemi was originally cast in the role, but when Tarantino expressed an interest he was immediately given the part.

Banderas, 100% Mariachi.

Antonio Banderas performed all of his own guitar work, including "Cancion Del Mariachi" during the opening credits. 

 

El Mariachi rides...

The Corona Club.

The bar in the beginning of the film where Steve Buscemi and Cheech Marin talk is an actual bar in Acuna, Mexico called the Corona Club. The bar is a lot cleaner and bigger in reality, but it's like walking right into the movie. They also have quite a few pictures of the stars and crew of the movie on the walls.

Quick draw.

The scenes with Steve Buscemi and Cheech Marin had to be shot quickly because they could only afford Buscemi for seven days and Cheech for six.

Scary Fake Blood gun.

For most of the killings they used a gun that essentially fired fake blood at the characters instead of squibs. This unfortunately created too realistic of an effect resulting in them having to edit out much of the deaths for the censors.

The more you want...

This film cost approximately $7 million to make, 1000 times the amount of money Rodriguez spent to make El mariachi.

 

...So does the bad guy.

Mr. Bison as Bucho.

Raul Julia was cast as Bucho, but pulled out due to declining health.

Banderas, the director.

The bathroom scene before the 2nd bar shootout was directed by Antonio Banderas. Robert Rodriguez said he didn't like using 2nd unit crews and Banderas asked if he could direct the scene, so Rodriguez agreed.

Chingón's music did not make it to Desperado.

Robert Rodriguez had originally written a rock version of the song "Malagueña Salerosa" into the screenplay. It would later be performed by his band "Chingon" during the end credits of Kill Bill: Vol. 2

 

Formerly known as Navajas, now known as Machete!

Cheech Marin, the invisible.

During the shoot out in the bar Cheech Marin's character is rarely seen. This is because they could only shoot his scenes in the six days they had him, so they made an approximation of what the shot up bar would look like and shot his scenes with it, putting his character behind it for most of the shootout.

Stuntmen for charity.

Due to the film's relatively low budget, the same two stunt men were used throughout the movie.

 

J Lo for the win.

 

Jennifer Lopez tried out for the part of Carolina.

 

The Gunman.

 

The movie was originally entitled "El Pistolero" ("The Gunman") to be consistent with the first film (El mariachi (1992)) but was changed at the request of the studio. In Mexico it was released as "Pistolero" and "La Balada del Pistolero" 

 

El Mariachi knows how to make your girl cum.

Happiness comes from a warm facial.

Santa Cecilia.

Santa Cecilia (St. Cecilia) is the patron saint of music, which is an obvious reference to the Mariachi theme. Both Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel wrote Odes to St. Cecilia's Day (22 November 1683, and 1739, respectively). Few hard facts are known about St. Cecilia who may not have existed at all, other than in legend.

 

Partnership beyond Desperado.

A week after finishing shooting this film, Robert Rodriguez and Antonio Banderas were back in the studio, working on Rodriguez's segment of Four Rooms (1995). 

 

Here's the movie trailer: