Grandfather Cowboy joker Despite the fact that the release date of the film, staged in the genre of melodrama with elements of comedy, “A Night in Old Mexico” (" A Night in Old Mexico) is designated as 2013, the picture reached us after a year and a half. In general, it can be understood that there was no special promotion for it, and low ratings at pre-premier shows did not contribute to this. But still the name of Robert Duval, the actor, who is now 85 years old, and he still plays and does not age like our Vladimir Zeldin, deserves respect and still films with his participation should not go anywhere. In addition to starring Robert Duvall in the film, the name of its main screenwriter, William D. Whittliffe, who at one time worked on the creation of such films as Legends of Autumn (1994) and The Perfect Storm (2000). So this writer has something to boast about, and we can expect new achievements from him.
But not this time. A Night in Old Mexico was a very, very mediocre film, although it had some potential. It would suffice to say that Robert Duvall got an interesting character, which he would always cope with. He plays an old man with cowboy habits, he is quite cynical and self-centered, he will always find the opportunity to trick someone, and if this person decides to deal with a joker, he will not mind understanding the fist fight. And suddenly a grandson comes to him, about whom he did not know. The hero of Duval in his best traditions meets the boy, wanting to get rid of him as soon as possible, but then sits him in the car and goes in search of adventure in Mexico. And there, given the nature of the grandfather, this couple definitely expect adventure, and even deadly, when they get involved in a showdown with local bandits. With the help of a newfound girlfriend, grandfather and grandson will try to get out of this difficult situation.
Once upon a time, literally twenty years ago, such films were made famously, whiplashly, that even those grams of the crime genre included in the plot were perceived lightly. Now it’s like everyone making a movie like this is trying to keep up with the times, and it would be good to show their individuality, otherwise critics will be disappointed. Wouldn't it be better to give up all the criticism and make a movie for the audience? This is exactly what Robert Duvall perfectly understood, who managed to amuse and even fall in love with his hero, but the director of the film Emilio Aragon, who has little experience in this role, still did not choose in which direction his film “Night in Old Mexico” will move. He then diligently deduced humor in it, then tried to play a card like the eternal conflicts of “fathers and children” (in this case, “grandfathers and grandchildren”), then exaggerated the melodramatism of situations, then on the contrary downplayed it. In general, the film turned out to be some disheveled, quickly galloping, and also windy and dissolute, and therefore unattractive.
For Robert Duvall, it has already been said several times that despite his respectful age, he continues to work in film and does it magnificently. However, in two similar images, he appeared in two consecutive films: in Nights in Old Mexico, of course, and in the drama Wild Horses. But the films themselves are depressing with their quality, unfortunately, and it is not Duval’s fault, except that he picked up such films. The role of the grandson was played by Jeremy Irwin, who became famous after “War Horse” by Steven Spielberg. Recently, Irvine played with another veteran, Michael Douglas, in the thriller Survival Game. But in “Night...” and “Game...” Irvine loses to more venerable and experienced actors, and I would like him not to lose so obviously to them. In Wild Horses, Duval starred alongside Colombian beauty Angie Cepeda, who played the lead female role in Night in Old Mexico. Not bad, but not bad for a movie like this. And there is Luis Tosar, remembered for the role of the criminal from the thriller “Camera 211”, but in “Night in Old Mexico” he seemed to be frightened and did not give any emotions. Sorry.
There is a feeling that the melodrama with elements of comedy and crime “Night in Old Mexico” was waiting for its time and came out at a very bad time, because the era of dashing and whippy cinema passed along with the era of militants and lone heroes. If not for the caustic character, well played by Robert Duval, then there is absolutely nothing to look at here, and the director of the picture Emilio Aragon is to blame, who never found the right methods to put a better tape.
4 out of 10