Hitman "El Mariachi" becomes involved in international espionage involving a psychotic CIA agent and a corrupt Mexican general.Hitman "El Mariachi" becomes involved in international espionage involving a psychotic CIA agent and a corrupt Mexican general.Hitman "El Mariachi" becomes involved in international espionage involving a psychotic CIA agent and a corrupt Mexican general.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 6 nominations
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.
- El Presidente
- (as Pedro Armendariz)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJohnny Depp shot all of his scenes in eight days, but after filming was done he didn't want to leave. So he suggested to Robert Rodriguez that he play a small part, the priest that Antonio Banderas talks to in the church, and used his Marlon Brando impression.
- GoofsWhen Sands first meets the bubblegum-selling boy, the shots of the boy have been flipped - the writing on the pack is backwards.
- Quotes
Agent Sands: Are you a Mexi-CAN or a Mexi-CAN'T?
Cucuy: I'm a Mexi-CAN
Agent Sands: Good. Then do as I say.
- Crazy creditsAfter all the credits, we are treated to one last quick image of Agent Sands (Johnny Depp) with no eyes.
- Alternate versionsThe theatrical version was screened in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The DVD & Blu-ray version keeps the original High-Definition 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Only Netflix has the theatrical 2.39:1 aspect ratio of the film.
- ConnectionsEdited into The Anti-Hero's Journey (2004)
- SoundtracksSands Theme
Written and Produced by Johnny Depp, Bill Carter, Bruce Witkin and Ruth Ellsworth
Performed by Tonto's Giant Nuts
Featured review
Over-the-top, Even more so than the first 2 films
First there was "El Mariachi", an over-the-top, low-budget, fun film. Then there was "Desperado", an even more over-the-top, higher-budget, fun film. Now, there's "Once Upon a Time In Mexico", a ridiculously over-the-top, high-budget fun film.
The plot here is very knotted and confusing, but still very good. As far as I can figure, it is about a man who has ruined El Mariachi's life, General Marquez, and his plan to kill the president. An FBI Agent is out to stop him, so he hires El Mariachi and various other people.
Now for the cast: all were excellent.
Antonio Banderas made a thrilling return as El Mariachi. Salma Hayek also makes a fun return as Carolina. Johnnny Depp plays a funny, interesting, and colorful Agent Sands, the FBI agent who hires El Mariachi. Danny Trejo was great as Cucuy, Sands' tail on El Mariachi. Cheech Marin was fitting for the part of Belini, the informant who gives Sands his intel. Ruben Blades was EXCELLENT as Jorge Ramirez, the retired FBI agent brought back to the force by Sands (unofficially anyway). El Mariachi's friends, Lorenzo (Enrique Iglesias), and Fideo (Marco Leonardi) were interesting. Eva Mendes was even not-terrible as the agent Ajedrez. Pedro Armendáriz Jr. gave a decent performance as the president. And Julio Oscar Mechoso was good as the president's adviser.
Now for the bad guys: Willem Dafoe gives a very evil performance as Barillo, who hired Marquez to kill the president. Mickey Rourke was extraordinary as Billy Chambers, Barillo's right-hand man. Gerardo Vigil was great as General Marquez as well.
The special effects here were 1st rate and came in handy a lot. There were many good action scenes and the comedy was well placed and funny.
The music score was decent also.
Over all, fans of "El Mariachi" and "Desperado" will enjoy "Once Upon a Time in Mexico"
8/10
The plot here is very knotted and confusing, but still very good. As far as I can figure, it is about a man who has ruined El Mariachi's life, General Marquez, and his plan to kill the president. An FBI Agent is out to stop him, so he hires El Mariachi and various other people.
Now for the cast: all were excellent.
Antonio Banderas made a thrilling return as El Mariachi. Salma Hayek also makes a fun return as Carolina. Johnnny Depp plays a funny, interesting, and colorful Agent Sands, the FBI agent who hires El Mariachi. Danny Trejo was great as Cucuy, Sands' tail on El Mariachi. Cheech Marin was fitting for the part of Belini, the informant who gives Sands his intel. Ruben Blades was EXCELLENT as Jorge Ramirez, the retired FBI agent brought back to the force by Sands (unofficially anyway). El Mariachi's friends, Lorenzo (Enrique Iglesias), and Fideo (Marco Leonardi) were interesting. Eva Mendes was even not-terrible as the agent Ajedrez. Pedro Armendáriz Jr. gave a decent performance as the president. And Julio Oscar Mechoso was good as the president's adviser.
Now for the bad guys: Willem Dafoe gives a very evil performance as Barillo, who hired Marquez to kill the president. Mickey Rourke was extraordinary as Billy Chambers, Barillo's right-hand man. Gerardo Vigil was great as General Marquez as well.
The special effects here were 1st rate and came in handy a lot. There were many good action scenes and the comedy was well placed and funny.
The music score was decent also.
Over all, fans of "El Mariachi" and "Desperado" will enjoy "Once Upon a Time in Mexico"
8/10
- emperor_bender
- May 4, 2008
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- El Mariachi 3
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $29,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $56,359,780
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $23,424,118
- Sep 14, 2003
- Gross worldwide
- $98,769,390
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
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