Search - El Mariachi

Filmed in two weeks on a budget of 7,000 dollars, El Mariachi was one of the singular pleasures of the 1993-1994 movie season. Kind-spirited guitarist El Mariachi (Carlos M. Gallardo) simply wants to wander through life as his father and grandfather did, with a song in his heart and a smile on his lips. He wanders into a small mob-run town, guitar case in hand. It so happens that the local criminal element is awaiting the arrival of vicious hit man Azul (Reinol Martinez), who is well known for carrying his weapons in...a guitar case. Just when you think you've got a lock on what's going to happen next, director Robert Rodriguez throws us for a loop, unexpectedly alternating whimsical comedy with graphic violence. Rodriguez later retooled the plot of El Mariachi for his far more expensive (and far less satisfying) Antonio Banderas vehicle Desperado (1995). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Carlos Gallardo - El Mariachi
Consuelo Gomez - Domino
Reinol Martinez - Azul
Peter Marquardt - Mauricio Moco

1993	Best Director (nominee)	Independent Spirit Awards	Robert Rodriguez
1993	Best First Feature (winner)	Independent Spirit Awards	Robert Rodriguez

Robert Rodriguez's feature-length directorial debut, the famously ultra low-budgeted El Mariachi comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Spanish and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. English, Spanish, French, and Korean subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Rodriguez. Although this commentary has appeared on other home video editions of the film, those unfamiliar with it will find it highly entertaining. Rodriguez goes into great detail about how he stretched his miniscule budget. Also included is something called the ten-minute film school in which Rodriguez shows off some of his original videotape final cut that was purchased by Columbia. The short film Bedhead and a preview of Once Upon a Time in Mexico rounds out this excellent release from Columbia/TriStar. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of El Mariachi...
65	Speed [Widescreen] (R)
12	American Me (R)
7	One False Move (R)
3	Best of the Best 2 (R)
12	Juice [Widescreen] (R)
S	Desperate Crimes
36	Just Cause (R)
2	Breaking Point (R)
71	Natural Born Killers [Director's Cut] (NR)
1	Out for Blood (R)
2	Book of Numbers
These movies have the subject or theme of El Mariachi...
19	Midnight Run (R)
1	The Noose Hangs High (NR)
S	Violent City (NR)
37	Sister Act (PG)
12	Cotton Club (R)
5	The Survivors (R)
4	Things Change (PG)
45	My Blue Heaven (PG-13)
2	Charley Varrick (PG)
S	Center of the Web (R)
4	Black Rain
1	Lady for a Day (NR)
These movies followed El Mariachi...
49	Desperado (R)
These movies share cast/crew with El Mariachi...
7	Invasion U.S.A. (R)
49	Desperado (R)
S	El Gato Con Botas
3	The Last American Virgin (R)
These movies cover the same subjects as El Mariachi...
?	Bravo (NR)
These movies are similar to El Mariachi...
1	Django [Subtitled] (NR)
20	A Fistful of Dollars (R)
7	The Getaway (PG)
12	High Plains Drifter (R)
11	The Killer
17	The Wild Bunch (R)
6	Yojimbo [Widescreen] (NR)
1	Django Strikes Again (NR)
36	Last Man Standing (R)