Click to read the article
Comment
11/12/08
El Mariachi (1992)
92 %
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted: 26
Fresh: 24
Rotten:2
Average Rating: 7/10
Consensus: Made on a shoestring budget, El Mariachi's story is not new. However, the movie has so much energy that it's thoroughly enjoyable.
Runtime: 81 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Synopsis: While earning room and board for a song, a down-on-his-luck musician gets into deep hot water when he's mistaken for a guitar case-toting hitman in a small Mexican town. EL MARIACHI was produced by... [More]
Starring: Carlos Gallardo, Consuelo Gomez, Peter Marquardt
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Get This Movie
Reviews for El Mariachi
Top CriticThe unrelenting tempo is bolstered by Rodriguez's camera work and editing: nearly every frame seems to have been shot with a careening, handheld camera, and they're cut together in a skillful, fluid fashion that enhances the tension and pace.
03/13/07
Juicy, adroit, and likable.
03/13/07
Top CriticNo festival is true to its name if it doesn't display at least one discovery. In 1992 that spot was occupied by Robert Rodriguez, who made a charming actioner for $7,500; never mind that Columbia later invested $1 million for its theatrical release.
06/26/06
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.
01/26/06
No review available.
11/01/05
An endlessly inventive and charming zero-budget action movie.
07/08/05
No review available.
12/18/04
Brilliant low-budget filmmaking. Better than most action films with ten times the budget.
07/20/04
Nowhere near as extravagant as its succesors, yet it remains a constant simple pleasure, best enjoyed with a shot of Patron and a cold Corona
02/21/04
A silly adventure tale that would have failed even with a $200 million budget.
09/26/03
Has tons more charm than its star-studded, big-budget reprise, Desperado.
08/09/03
No review available.
06/02/03
It goes without saying that Mr. Rodriguez, having made such a clever and inventive debut, is prepared for a big future of his own.
05/20/03
Top CriticNo review available.
03/27/03
No review available.
10/18/02
Arguably the most amazing film made in 1990s.
09/09/02
Low-budget filmmaking at its most clever.
08/05/02
No review available.
07/30/02
Latest News for El Mariachi
January 28, 2009:
The Blair Witch Project 10 Years On with Directors Ed Sanchez and Dan Myrick
1999 was one of the most important years for modern cinema. Ten years on, we're celebrating a remarkable twelve months of movies with new features around some of the year's best... More...
December 06, 2004:
David Arquette & Kristin Davis Meet Up With Shark Boy and Lava Girl
More...
Related Forums for El Mariachi
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Point-Counterpoint: Bruno 
MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.
The New Cult Canon
The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.
Tom Cruise's 10 Best Roles
TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.
A Baywatch Comedy?
BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.
IGN RSS Feeds