Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Once Upon a Time in Mexico
2003
**
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek, Willem Dafoe, Mickey Rourke

This Tortilla western follows El Mariachi and Desperado, and now our mariachi/assassin is looking to revenge the killing of his family. Robert Rodriguez is a technically and visually skilled filmmaker and here he's done basically everything himself. The action scenes are well staged and shot, as always, but the script is an incomprehensible mess. Characters get introduced and shot before you get to know their names, let alone care about them. A fine cast is wasted in sketchy roles, Johnny Depp as an offbeat CIA agent is the sole standout.