Andrew McMurtryREVIEW: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
November 25th 2008 13:12
“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” is a film involving the border between Texas and Mexico for a movie of multi-national friendship and keeping a promise, which is shown through converging storylines. Pete Perkins (Tommy Lee Jones), a rancher in Texas, hires Melquiades Estrada (Julio Cedillo) from Mexico to work on his ranch. The two become firm friends. They work together and confide in each other until Melquiades is killed while trying to kill a fox that staking around near the property. In the other story line, Mike Norton (Barry Pepper) and his young wife, Lou Ann (January Jones), move down to Texas so that he may work on the border patrol. Mike is a horrible man, beating immigrants that try to seek refuge in America. While stopped by the side of the road, Mike seems to get fired upon. He shoots back, killing the man, who, it turns out, was Melquiades who was shooting at a fox. This is the first burial, when Pete hides the body. The second burial is after he is identified. The third burial takes till the end of the movie and is based on Melquiades saying to Pete “Promise me one thing, Pete. If I die over here, carry me back to my family and bury me in my hometown. I don’t want to be buried on this side among all the f***ing billboards.” This is the basis of the movie and follows the idea of friendship between these two men.
When Pete finds out that Mike was responsible for Melquiades death, he kidnaps him, taking Mike along for the journey into Mexico to bury him in his hometown. This may seem like clichéd journey to return his friend home from this point, but there are some interesting surprises and revelations revealed. In a sub-plot, Lou Ann finally realises what a terrible marriage she is in and leaves Mike while he is away. This revelation is hinted at via an early scene when Melquiades and Lou Ann dance together while Pete is with his mistress. There is a scene with an old man (left) who befriends Mike and Pete. When they leave the old man asks:
Pete Perkins: Anything you want.
Old Man with Radio: I need you to go ahead and shoot me.
This is a surprising thing to hear from the old man and catches the viewer off guard. Yet it reaffirms the viewer’s interest in the film after a reasonably slow period.
This “Odyssey”, as it has been called, is a strange sight in a movie, especially when the corpse of Melquiades graces many scenes. But as they ride, they travel through several gloriously beautiful landscapes. The complication comes from the land itself, rather than any figurative road blocks. The best thing about this film is that the whole film, the ups and downs, everything is just to get Melquiades home and fulfil Pete’s promise. The journey to get his friend home is what makes this film entertaining, from such a simple idea.
I really enjoyed this film. I thought it was a great way to show the strength of the friendship between Pete and Melquiades, especially since you get the feeling that Melquiades doesn't really feel that Pete will actually go through with the promise. It is a good way to show the love and faith Pete had in Melquiades. This film may not be everyones cup of tea but it is a good movie and a testiment to Tommy Lee Jones' directorial abilities and what he did with this script. I'd give this film 3.5 out of 5. It was an enjoyable film and I would recommend this film.
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