It’s long, vague, perplexing, striving and
hasty – but don’t let a silly little thing like a
‘movie title’ put you off (though, I bet it does) a
perfectly good movie.
As non-conforming and singular as
it’s director (Tommy Lee Jones, making his feature directorial
debut, he directed a telemovie a few years back called The
Good Ol’ Boys), but as brilliant too, The
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
is the ultimate in anti-Hollywood: staggeringly unflashy, hugely
character-driven, widely open to construal, and ultimately, agreeably
real.
If mullet-haired Tom Hanks cracking puzzle books bored, Wolverine’s
claws were too blunt, and Mission: Impossible
just ‘too much Cruise’, then you’ll appreciate this
one. It’s a solid film indeed. The performances are amazingly
good; the locations are exquisite, and its message – as inspiring
as they are unexpected.
A whodunit-of-sorts, the film stars
Jones as a ranch foreman honouring his late friend, illegal immigrant
Melquiades (Julio César Cedillo), appeal to be buried in his
native Mexico should he give up the ghost in Texas. Meantime, one of
the new Border Patrol boys (Barry Pepper) is about to get to know the
late man, a hell of a lot better.
As you’ll have worked
out for yourself, I don’t want to give up too much about the
film. Part of its appeal is letting the story unfold for itself.
As
a director, Jones is surprisingly proficient – showing both
creativity and nads behind the lens, at times shooting sequences that
would turn John Sayles or Sam Peckinpah to mush. He always puts the
story before anything else (unlike a lot of the films he’s been
in himself), and the film is better for it. He might have worked harder
on the first act (the back-forward shift between ‘then’ and
‘now’ may be confusing to some viewers), might’ve
humanized the villain a tad more, and possibly retained the same tone
for the overall picture (in contrast to switching from thriller to
black comedy, three quarters the way through), but overall, it’s
a terrific debut.
They don’t make ‘em like they use
to – something Tommy Lee Jones obviously agrees with. If you
can’t the stand the embarrassment of trying to pronounce the
title to the cashier, buy yourself a ticket.
3.5 out
of 5
The
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Australian release: 25th
May, 2006
Cast:Tommy Lee Jones, Julio Cedillo,
Vanessa Bauche, Dwight Yoakam, Barry Tubb Director: Tommy Lee Jones
Website:Click
here.
