Desperado, a flick directed by Robert Rodriguez in 1995, has to be one of the most memorable films to ever grace the silver screen. I feel the reason why it is so memorable is due to the amazing shots and the attention to setting details.
From a formalist point of analysis, Desperado has plenty to offer. The film starts with a fade in on a pair of shoes. As the scene progresses, the camera slowly moves up to reveal none other than Steve Buscemi. A quick cut scene is then shown of the setting, which is a run-down bar in Mexico that is full of patrons. Robert Rodriguez gets the point across that this is not a comfortable place to be by making use of colors. The bar is presented in various tones of orange and brown. Throughout the film, the viewers can see these colors as a recurring pattern. There are very few times when colors such as blue or green are utilized. When I see the colors of orange and brown in collaboration, I automatically think of the desert and an uncomfortable setting.
Rodriguez' superb angles throughout the film keep the movie moving at an intense pace. The bar shoot-out is probably the most recognizable part of the whole film. Yet, I feel it is recognizable not because of the cool gun-slinger moves that Antonio Banderas displays, but because of the way that the entire scene is shot. Throughout the entire scene, a variety of shots are utilized. A crane shot is used to see Banderas sliding back, and the bullets zoom right into the camera. One shot is used to see through the eyes of one of the victims, played by Quentin Tarantino. The most impressive shot can be seen towards the end of the shoot-out. Banderas, in an attempt to kill an out-of-reach enemy, shoots a ceiling fan in hopes of it landing on his unfortunate foe. Rodriguez captures the fan as it's falling from the ceiling, and does so by lying down underneath the actor that is playing Banderas' enemy. The shot is very impressive, and it's very interesting to know that Rodriguez actually risked injury to get the shot.
The final thing that I would like to point out is the excellent selection of music. A major component of any Robert Rodriguez film is an intriguing musical score. Desperado features a few songs from a band known as Tito & Tarantula, which is fronted by Tito Larriva who had a small role in the film. Their music really captures the dark, up-to-no-good tones that Rodriguez tries to present. The intro of "Back to the House that Love Built", which is used as Banderas walks into the bar for the first time, really gives the audience the feeling that El Mariachi is going to take no prisoners in this tavern. The music of Los Lobos is also featured, which keeps the Mexican themes in the movie alive for its entire duration. "Bella", performed by Santana, helps to capture the more sultry side of the film.
The link that is atttached is the film's Wikipedia page, which gives some interesting trivia on the film. The video below is a clip of the shoot-out scene I mentioned earlier. As I stated before, this scene makes use of many different camera angles and showcases Robert Rodriguez' directing skills. Two of Tito & Tarantula's songs are featured in this clip as well.
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