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7.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Godfather Mendoza remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like movies about people who think they’re the smartest guys in the room, watch this. If you need explosions or a hero you can actually root for, maybe skip it. It’s a bit of a slow burn, honestly.
Rosalio Mendoza is a guy I think we all know. He’s the host who pours the drink a little too generously, smiling while he calculates exactly what he can get from you later. It’s fascinating watching him juggle the government types and Zapata’s rebels in the same living room.
The pacing is a bit weird. There are moments where the camera just sits on a conversation, letting the tension build until it’s almost uncomfortable. It reminded me a bit of the slow, methodical dread in The Case of Sergeant Grischa, though this one feels more like a cage match inside a mansion.
The hacienda itself feels like a character. It starts off inviting, but as the movie drags on, it starts to feel claustrophobic. You can tell Mendoza is losing his grip on the place. There’s a scene where he’s forced to make a choice, and his face—he looks like he’s aged ten years in a single cut.
Some of the background players in the revolution scenes feel a little staged, like they were waiting for a cue to start shouting. It’s not as slick as Circus, but it has this grit that makes you ignore the budget limitations.
The ending isn't a neat bow. It’s messy. It’s the kind of ending that makes you stare at the screen for a minute after the credits roll, wondering if he ever actually stood for anything. It’s not a movie for everyone, but it’s definitely a movie that knows exactly what it is. And for once, it doesn’t try to be anything else. 🍷