1995 Rewind: Desperado


It's hard to believe, but 1995 was 30 years ago. Over the next few weeks I'm going to be looking at some stand out films from 1995 that are turning 30 in 2025. Today, it's a spaghetti western from Robert Rodriguez.

El Mariachi: [praying] Give me the strength to be what I was, and forgive me for what I am.

Desperado
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Joaquin de Almeida, and Steve Buscemi
Director: Robert Rodriguez
About: This is the middle led of what's known as the El Mariachi trilogy. It's arguably the best of the three. I love Once Upon A Time in Mexico, which came third, but this film holds a special place in my heart. It has plenty of humor, plenty of heart, and a lot of action. This is the first of the films with Banderas, and his chemistry with Hayek is a lot of fun. In fact, that's most of what's missing from the third film. I like the story and I really enjoy Buscemi, especially in that opening sequence. This is a crisp and easy watch with some good action and humor. This is from a period in the 1990s when Rodriguez was really on top of his game, and this is one of his best films. It's worth seeking out, even 30 years later.

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