Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Movie review - "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" (1974) *** (warning: spoilers)

 The most Sam Peckinpah title of all Peckinpah films, this has become a big cult, with its title, seedy Mexican setting, Warren Oates leading role, interesting cast (including Gig Young and Robert Webber as assassins), love story at its core between Oates and Isela Vega, woman who is raped but also enjoys it (Kris Kristofferson drags Vega off to the bushes but she seems willing).

It's almost two hours and feels dragged out with lots of scenes of chatting in the car - Oates and Vega and then Oates and the head. There is violence but it is short and sharp.

Beautifully shot, Mexican locations, dodgy views of men and women, Oates having a high old time, Young looking seedy AF, chatting to a head. Vega's murder happens off screen - he wakes up and finds she's been killed, but that is interesting. It also happens half way through. We never meet Garcia - lot of off screen drama.

But the film has its own integrity.

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