The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
(B or 3/4 stars)
Tommy Lee Jones grabs a shovel in 'The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada', a drama written by Guillermo Arriaga & directed by none other than T.L. Jones, himself. Melquiades Estrada, an immigrant ranch hand, is shot & temporarily buried (1st burial) in barren, Southwestern Texas. The body is found & re-buried (2nd burial) in a local cemetery. Pete Perkins (T.L. Jones), a local cowboy, then kidnaps a U.S. Border Patrolman, Mike Norton (Barry Pepper) and forces him to dig up the body and help him return it to Estrada's home town of Jimenez, Mexico. This makes for a multicultural, rugged, unpredictable journey. The general pace of the film is too slow for its own good. But it is has some truly stellar moments, irregardless.
Pete & Estrada were fast friends. Although, Melquiades Estrada was an illegal immigrant, Pete appreciated his hard work and morals as a human being. Since they all live near the U.S.-Mexico border, violence, racism, & death was always a concern for all. Pete had promised Melquiades that if he were to die (one day), he would return his body to his wife and children in Jimenez. Mike Norton hadn't planned on killing Melquiades Estrada. Melquiades was shooting at a coyote that was ambushing some livestock, and Norton anticipated that he was firing at him. An accident? Yes. A big deal to the local feds? No. A big deal to Pete Perkins? You betcha. After Pete is tipped off that Norton is the killer, he vows to keep his promise. The fact that he loathes Norton makes this all the easier.
Days go by during their horseback trek through the sandy wilderness. Norton is faced with rowdy locals, beatings, hard labor, harsh weather, snake bites, etc. We sympathize a bit, but we can't forget what a jerk he really is (especially to his lonely wife, Lou Ann). As for Pete, it seems like cruel & unusual punishment for him to do this to a man who killed Estrada by accident, but he is so focused on accomplishing his mission, keeping his end of a promise (to a great man), that we recognize the virtues of what he's doing. The last scenes are unpredictable and brings a tidy conclusion to a quiet, thoughtful film.
It is arduous to watch, no less think of experiencing the daunting journey that they go on in the vast North Mexican wasteland. Each obstacle they meet, each town they traipse through is filled with mystery, caution, & intrigue. How much agony will Pete put Norton through? At what cost? Will they find Estrada's wife, children, and home (site of a 3rd potential burial)? Can Pete and Norton forgive each other? Is there room for redemption? Is all of this worth the life of a seemingly insignificant Mexican? Or, is the whole point that every human being is important? Tommy Lee Jones does a great job of showing us the social studies of very different people, who happen to live very close to each other in very different countries. 'The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada' could have used more excitement. But the personal, moral story (written extremely well) is what we take away from this film.
Pete & Estrada were fast friends. Although, Melquiades Estrada was an illegal immigrant, Pete appreciated his hard work and morals as a human being. Since they all live near the U.S.-Mexico border, violence, racism, & death was always a concern for all. Pete had promised Melquiades that if he were to die (one day), he would return his body to his wife and children in Jimenez. Mike Norton hadn't planned on killing Melquiades Estrada. Melquiades was shooting at a coyote that was ambushing some livestock, and Norton anticipated that he was firing at him. An accident? Yes. A big deal to the local feds? No. A big deal to Pete Perkins? You betcha. After Pete is tipped off that Norton is the killer, he vows to keep his promise. The fact that he loathes Norton makes this all the easier.
Days go by during their horseback trek through the sandy wilderness. Norton is faced with rowdy locals, beatings, hard labor, harsh weather, snake bites, etc. We sympathize a bit, but we can't forget what a jerk he really is (especially to his lonely wife, Lou Ann). As for Pete, it seems like cruel & unusual punishment for him to do this to a man who killed Estrada by accident, but he is so focused on accomplishing his mission, keeping his end of a promise (to a great man), that we recognize the virtues of what he's doing. The last scenes are unpredictable and brings a tidy conclusion to a quiet, thoughtful film.
It is arduous to watch, no less think of experiencing the daunting journey that they go on in the vast North Mexican wasteland. Each obstacle they meet, each town they traipse through is filled with mystery, caution, & intrigue. How much agony will Pete put Norton through? At what cost? Will they find Estrada's wife, children, and home (site of a 3rd potential burial)? Can Pete and Norton forgive each other? Is there room for redemption? Is all of this worth the life of a seemingly insignificant Mexican? Or, is the whole point that every human being is important? Tommy Lee Jones does a great job of showing us the social studies of very different people, who happen to live very close to each other in very different countries. 'The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada' could have used more excitement. But the personal, moral story (written extremely well) is what we take away from this film.