Once Upon a Time in Mexico

Right now you can watch Once Upon a Time in Mexico in the US on Philo — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 2,422 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Antonio Banderas's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on Philo and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Once Upon a Time in Mexico earns its spot. Once Upon a Time in Mexico treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. A corrupt CIA agent Sands hires hitman El Mariachi to assassinate a Mexican general hired by a drug kingpin attempting a coup d'état of the President of Mexico. Antonio Banderas and Johnny Depp lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2003. The plot mechanics of Once Upon a Time in Mexico never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Once Upon a Time in Mexico will keep you hooked. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Antonio Banderas carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.