
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 24, 1993                   TAG: 9304240055
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SMALL BUDGET DOESN'T HURT `EL MARIACHI'

It's easy to see why "El Mariachi" has been such a hit at film festivals. It's the kind of movie that enthusiastic audiences take to heart. But the film was made on an unbelievably small budget (only $7,000!), giving it so many rough edges that the moviegoing public at large may be put off.

Essentially, producer/director/writer/editor Robert Rodriguez has recycled the plot of "A Fistful of Dollars" (itself recycled from the Japanese film "Yojimbo") and set it in contemporary Mexico.

Our nameless hero (Carlos Gallardo) is a traveling musician or "mariachi" who lives by his wits and his guitar. He has the bad luck to wander into a desolate little town where two gangsters have just renewed a long feud. Apparently at some time in the past, Moco (Peter Marquardt) cheated Azul (Reinol Martinez) out of some money. Azul wound up in jail, where he still conducts business via cellular telephone.

But when Moco sends a team of hitmen to the jail, war erupts. Through a nicely contrived bit of mistaken identity, the "mariachi" is caught in the middle. His only ally is the lovely saloon keeper, Domino (Consuelo Gomez), but she has other loyalties, too.

If the story sounds familiar, Rodriguez's treatment of it is consistently surprising. He uses every inexpensive trick you've ever seen to punch up the action; extreme low camera angles, quick zooms, slow motion, fast motion, odd lenses. The constant camera movement could become too frenetic, but Rodriguez understands pace. He balances the big action scenes with slower, more measured ones. And whenever the story threatens to degenerate into more mindless chases involving lots of guys shooting Uzis at each other, he tosses in some strange humor.

Though it's obvious that many members of the cast are not professional actors, the leads do credible work, particularly Gallardo. He has a friendly, likeable quality that counts for a lot. Also, Rodriguez made excellent use of his locations. The settings have a rough, peeling-paint, un-airconditioned feel that's perfect for this kind of story.

"El Mariachi" may not appeal to all tastes - it is subtitled - but if you're in the mood for something outside the Hollywood mainstream, give it a try.

\ El Mariachi *** A Columbia release playing at the Grandin Theatre. Rated R for graphic violence. 80 min.

by CNB