Once upon a Time in Mexico

Antonio Banderas is back in the role of the wandering, guitar-playing avenger in Robert Rodriguez's conclusion to his mariachi trilogy, all three parts of which can be watched independently of one another. Compared with "El Mariachi" and "Desperado", the personal revenge motive has receded further into the background in this film, in which the loner's fight against a powerful and thoroughly corrupt adversary is not at the centre of the action. Instead el mariachi becomes embroiled in a high-level political affair involving an assassination attempt on the sitting president. Unlike so many others, the president actually has genuine intentions and ideals that he tries to live up to.

The cast of characters in this plot, which is more intricate than in the previous films, is larger, and el mariachi's role correspondingly smaller. The most interesting new addition is Johnny Depp's role as the CIA agent Sands, who at first seems to have everything under control but - it turns out - is looking out for himself more than anyone else. In a way the plot is more challenging to follow, but on the other hand it is harder to get involved, since el mariachi, with whom we usually identify, is merely one combatant among many.

Robert Rodriquez has made a handsome and entertaining film, but it is a notch too playful and unfocused to become a true epic, which is precisely what the title promises.