JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonJohn Doe's Top 10 Mexican Stand-Offs
October 12th 2009 00:00
John Doe's Memorable Mexican Standoffs
The Wild Bunch on their way to destiny.
Guns aimed at heads, trigger fingers itching with fatalistic violence, this post is inspired by Ask Men’s list of the same name to be found here. It’s not a travesty, some entries JD agrees with but it seems a little confused. For instance taking McClane’s wife hostage in the yippee-ki-ay finale to Die Hard does NOT qualify in Johnny's eyes.
A definition from Wikipedia:
“A Mexican standoff is a slang term defined as a stalemate or impasse, a confrontation that neither side can win. In popular culture, the Mexican standoff is usually portrayed as two or more opponents with guns drawn and ready, creating a very tense situation.”
Threatened by cliché due to mediocre staging,the dramatic event can still excite when in the hands of a talented Director. Sam Peckinpah , John Woo, Sergio Leone and Quentin Tarantino all have executed this scenario with the right mix of tongue in cheek tough guy gusto and tragic poetry.
Before glochs, blades and bows are drawn to JD’s head, here is his top 10:
1. The Wild Bunch
“Let’s Go” - Pike
Outnumbered, outgunned and out of options the Bunch draw first blood in the flesh ripping finale to this classic western.
The three faces of death.
A cemetery and Ennio Morricone backdrop Clint, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef, cinema history is made.
3. The Killer
John Woo’s reworking of the classic Le Samourai feels like it’s all one giant physical or spiritual
4. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
“For a moment there I thought we were in trouble.” – Butch
South of the border the end game for Butch and Sundance is poignantly heroic celluloid.
5. City on Fire
Watch the trailer below. It has no subtitles but if you have seen Reservoir Dogs then you know exactly what everyone is saying.
6.Reservoir Dogs
”Larry, stop pointin' that fuckin' gun at my Dad!” – Nice Guy Eddie
Tarantino manages to place his gangsters in a lose/lose with nearly all his films but none match this 3 way split.
7. True Romance
“So what, they're cops, who gives a shit? Hey Lee, there's something I never told you about me. I hate fuckin' cops.” - Boris
8. Desperado
“I'm looking for a man who calls himself Bucho. That's all. And you had to do it the hard way.” – El Mariachi
The greatest spoof on the Mexican standoff tradition happens inside a bar where not one, not two but three standoffs occur in succession with progressively entertaining bloodletting.
9. Way of the Gun
The film itself may have been uneven but Usual Suspects writer turned Director Christopher McQuarrie stages lead waltzing around a fountain filled with broken glass. Referencing showdowns of cinema past this makes up for any innocent story casualties killed by the frenzied plotting.
10. Truth or Consequence New Mexico.
Directed by Keifer Sutherland there is a lamented loss that begins even before the first barrel begins to smoke in this catastrophic finale that slaughters love.
Trailer for Truth or Consequence N.M.Your text goes here
What are some of your favourites?
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Matt Shea
20/20 Filmsight
In any case, it's good to know that you care about your personal grooming...
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I really feel like I'm missing some other great ones though...i'm trying to remember if Equilibrium had a standoff?
is that a no to Peckinpah in number 1??
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
LOL, I visit askmen for the articles
Leone certainly had it down, though it isn't a mexican srandoff the opening and closing showdowns in Once Upon A Time In The West are filled with as much tension as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
Yep, misguided is the right word...it had some good ones but also lost its way. I dig on Three Kings too.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile