Review of The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) by Bryan T — 25 Feb 2008

More brilliant then most people tend to realize. Jones never ceases to mystify me and this is a near flawless performance (my vote for the best of 2006.) This film merits a four-star rating on the strength of its storytelling but bear in mind that it has significant flaws.

For example, it's often not sure of which film it wants to be and it's hard to distinguish its satire from its structural blemishes. The stone-faced western aspects of it are casually interrupted by the modernity of the way it was shot.

For example, we see jaw-dropping shots of pure and unadulterated landscapes, very much dedicated to the western, discontinued by an SUV-police-cruiser trudging through the frame. The real problem is that, if this indeed is satire, it's so deadpan that the audience can't find the line.

Also slightly miscast, this film still needs a few years to grow on movie-watchers, but I think it will be revisited and beloved in a near future. Also, a golden standard in cinematography.