EL MARIACHI
A film review by Craig Good
Copyright 1993 Craig Good
I'm truly sorry I don't have time to compose a full-fledged review of EL MARIACHI, but I want to at least spread some good buzz about the movie. By now everybody knows that it was shot for $7,000 and has launched the first-time director's Hollywood career.
EL MARIACHI is a simple action story, well-told and with well- drawn characters. It has a fresh appeal which struck me as BLOOD SIMPLE meets THE OUTLAW--JOSEY WALES meets THE GODS MUST BE CRAZY. It seems to stand as a shining example of how a small budget can be a help, and not a hindrance, to a film maker.
Were I to offer a Hollywood job to this film maker, it would probably be as an editor. It's not that his directing isn't natural and assured, but I think it's the cutting that really makes EL MARIACHI. The film also captures very faithfully the look and feel of a small Mexican town. This is clearly an insider's view, and not some Art Director's idea of what Mexico might look like. This is the real thing.
The English subtitles are plenty good enough for any semi-literate American to be able to enjoy the film, but if you happen to understand Spanish you'll enjoy another level of clever (but not overly-clever) dialogue. If you think you'd enjoy a simple, fresh change of pace film with no actors you can recognize, go out of your way to catch EL MARIACHI.
--Craig
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