Desperado is a film directed by Robert Rodriguez. The definition of desperado is a desperate or reckless person. This especially describes a criminal, bandit or lawbreaker. Although this is the perfect name for the film, it is quite stereotypical that the cast for this move is completely portrayed by Mexican actors. The film follows El Mariachi who is played by Antonio Banderas, as he seeks revenge on a drug lord named Bucho (Joaquim de Almeida) for the death of his wife. It is a mercilessly violent movie that holds nothing back.
Every actor holds some stereotypical notion to their character’s identity. The bar owners are uneducated, dirty and are believed to urinate in their customers’ beers. They are also depicted as extremely hostile. In one scene, there are a group of Americans complaining about the service. One of the bartenders is quick to suggest that they shoot them. But the idea is dismissed.
El Mariachi epitomizes the idea of a machismo. He is tough, and dedicated to getting his revenge. In one scene, he even avoids bullets by simply walking away from them. He is certainly an extremely violent character. In the end, it is revealed that Bucho is actually El Mariachi’s brother. At first, he is reluctant to kill. But once Bucho gives El Mariachi an ultimatum that involves killing Carolina, El Mariachi has no choice but to kill his brother. This particular scene reminded me of American Me, and how the gang members would kill anyone to have a peace of mind or to be faithful to their gang. This idea of killing whomever to get to a certain position in life is a pervasive stereotype among Mexican Men.
Even Carolina, who is played by Salma Hayek, is a seemingly guiltless library owner. However, she is associated with drugs. She is one of the only female characters in a film surrounded by violent men. She also reminds me of the super-sexy typical Latina that is usually casted in Hollywood films. She has a Spanish accent and is constantly showing skin. Her tops are low-cut and her stomach is always revealed.
There is also a young boy who El Mariachi calls Nino that helps Bucho sell drugs. When El Mariachi furiously asks him what he gets from partaking in such activities, the young boy answers, “My father doesn’t have to work. He watches TV.” One can certainly say that this type of mentality demonstrated by his father is similar to the “lazy Mexican” notion.
Bucho, in my opinion, posses the most stereotypes that society commonly associate to Mexican men. For one, he a ruthless, trigger-happy, drug lord who has difficulties controlling his anger. In one particular scene, Bucho is furious after his team unsuccessfully kills El Mariachi. He states nonchalantly, “You drive around town, you see someone you know shoot them! How hard is that?” He then proceeds to demonstrate that exact scenario on one his members in his crew.
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/10341
http://cevdetarkun.weebly.com/1/category/desperado/1.html
Robert Rodriguez capitalizes in the idea of “machismo”. He knows it sells in the box office. Young men, no matter what race look up to a character like El Mariachi, who is rebellious and violent. A clear example of that is Tony Montana in Scarface. He is idolized by young me all over the world.
I think that Montana & El Mariachi are similar to the actors that we touched upon when talking about Blaxploitation the other evening. These Latin and Black men who have been marginalized need someone to look up to in order to feel like “real men.” Their rights were stripped and they were treated as sub-human, so it makes sense that the role models that would emerge would be ones that are violent, ruthless, and strong. I feel that the character of El Mariachi is very similar to Machete in that they are both over-the-top characters that avenge wrongs against innocent people.
I screened El Mariachi as one of my videos, so it will be interesting to see how this trilogy will wrap things up.
Is it wrong that I love it! Love it all everything about Desperado. I used to watch this film at least once a week when I was younger. In taking the course I see the type of mexipliotation but it worked! Is not terrible I’m not even Latina and it go me every man wanted to be Antonio Bandereas every woman Salema Hayak!
I’ve never seen “Desperado” but it sounds like a good movie. I love action movies. This movie reminds me a lot of “Machete”. A man out for revenge for the murder of his family. In “Machete” he also tries to go after the man that killed his daughter and wife, while evading police from setting him up for shooting the senator. This movie sounds like it has the same violent scenes as in “Machete”. Which wouldn’t surprise me since Robert Rodriguez directed both of those films. That scene you described does also sound like the scene in American me when Puppet kills his younger brother little Puppet. It’s interesting to me how you describe Carolina, played by Salma Hayek. You said that she is always surrounded by violent men and is always in skimpy revealing clothing. That reminds me of the character Elvira Hancock played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie “Scarface”. She is also surrounded by violent men and is always wearing really revealing sexy clothes. The only difference is that Carolina is Latina while Elvira was white. What is it about these types of movies that they always have to have hot woman in them? Is it just eye candy for the men that are watching these movies?
While reading this blog post, I felt the film seemed very similar to the films my dad watches on television. A man is avenging the death or rape of the love of his life. I am glad to know the cast in this film was Latino, and I am eager to watch the film to find out how well they played the roles. These types of usually address and measure the masculinity of the male characters. I am guessing the female roles were not as important as it appears that the film is about and revolves around the main character.