El Mariachi just wants to play his guitar and carry on the family tradition. Unfortunately, the town he tries to find work in has another visitor, a killer who carries his guns in a guitar case. The drug lord and his henchmen mistake el Mariachi for the killer, Azul, and chase him around town trying to kill him and get his guitar case.
A gripping, tautly-paced action flick that outdoes most of Hollywood's similar output.
– James Berardinelli,
ReelViews,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
It goes without saying that Mr. Rodriguez, having made such a clever and inventive debut, is prepared for a big future of his own.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Rodriguez goes for broke with a breakneck pace, swarms of bullets, cinematic tricks, and a tone as playful as it is knowing of genre conventions. The director's light touch is all his own; and this unpretentious offering delivers in all departments.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
26 Jan 2006
fresh:
Juicy, adroit, and likable.
– Jonathan Rosenbaum,
Chicago Reader,
13 Mar 2007
fresh:
Has a verve and cheekiness that's partly a smart wedding of such influences as Sergio Leone, George Miller and south-of-the-border noir.