Salma Hayek’s Sexy, R-Rated Action Classic Turns Its Cast Into Superstars
Posted by Jonathan Klotz | Published
The year 1995 is notable for being that year toy Story animation redefined, Apollo 13 reconstructed history, and, well, The land of water it was there. And it’s the year when two of Hollywood’s hottest stars break through, but not in any blockbusters. This is Roberto Rodriguez’s place Desperoreturning to Netflix after years away from the streaming service, turned the director into one of Hollywood’s hottest talents while its two leads, Antonio Banderas and Selma Hayek, have been setting screens on fire for over 30 years and counting.
Blood Revenge by Antonio Banderas The way
Despero it’s a sequel to Rodriguez’s debut, very low budget El Mariachi (he was shot for $7,500 two years earlier), with Banderas taking on the role of a wandering Mexican out for revenge. Blaming drug lord Bucho for the death of his love, El Mariachi kills dozens of criminals in a small border town and happens to take refuge with the owner of a local bookstore, Carolina, played by Salma Hayek. The pairing succeeds quickly with their screen-melting chemistry between the most bloody and gruesome firefights, the original cut being NC-17.
The plot is simple, but that’s not a bad thing. Desperado’s the revenge story pays homage to the spaghetti Western in Rodriguez’s stylish style. When El Mariachi returns to roam the streets with his guitar case of weapons, you won’t care that there are no real twists or turns in the story. It’s fun, it’s bloody, and it looks and sounds like nothing else since 1995.
The world was not ready for Banderas and Hayek
For a small part of the budget of The land of water ($7 million vs. $175 million), Rodriguez is able to make his stars pop off the screen. The opening sequence even features Antonio Banderas playing his guitar, singing, and hitting a thug over the head with the best el-kabong since Quick Draw McGraw. Banderas was already included Philadelphia again Interview With The Vampire, but Desperado was his biggest breakthrough as an action star and sex symbol.
Salma Hayek was already gaining popularity in Mexico when she signed on as Carolina. Despero was his breakthrough in the English language, followed a year later by a memorable dance sequence in Rodriguez’s sequel, From Dusk Till Dawn. It’s rare for a low-budget film to get off the ground these days. Despero did one better and turned both its leads and its director into stars.
No One Thought The Mexico Trilogy Would Lead To Child Abuse
The problem with Despero that it is so over the top, so bloody, and so violent that it can be hard to watch. If you loved The of Kingman war of the week, you owe it to yourself to see El Mariachi take down the entire area of cartel members. You should also hunt for the third film in the Mexican trilogy, Once in Mexicoeven bigger, though it lacks charm Despero. Remember that while watching Mariachi open his guitar case for the first time as Rodriguez continues to lead his act as a father Spy Kidsincluding a returning Danny Trejo (who played two different characters in the Mexican trilogy).
Despero is a classic that launched its wave of low-budget action movies in the 90s. Other filmmakers can replicate the blood and guts, but no one can replace Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. Now you can catch the best of both stars on Netflix and remember when $7 million got you a classic and not a third of an episode Stranger Things.
