The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Movie Review 2005

Powerful meditation on the brutality of the U.S.-Mexico border region. Rancher Pete Perkins (Jones) forces Mike Norton (Pepper) to carry the body of Pete's friend Melquiades Estrada (Cedillo) from their dusty Texas border town to the dead man's home in Mexico for burial in his family cemetery. But the bigger story is how their journey acts as a metaphor for the all-too human boundaries of wealth, sex, race, and religion. Norton, a racist patrol officer (and Estrada's murderer) is transformed from a thug with a badge into a man who must seek redemption after his eyes are opened to the weight of his actions. Amazing performances are buoyed by Arriaga's knowing script.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on DVD
Running time 120 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Western, Mexico, Immigration

Screenplay

Guillermo Arriaga

Cast

Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, Dwight Yoakam, January Jones, Melissa Leo, Levon Helm, Vanessa Bauche, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Mel Rodriguez, Cecilia Suarez, Ignacio Guadalupe

Cinematography

Chris Menges

Director

Tommy Lee Jones

Music

Marco Beltrami

Other

Marc Weingarten, Roberto Silvi, Jeff Knipp, Kathleen Kiatta, Meredith Boswell

Producer

Michael Fitzgerald, Luc Besson, Pierre Ange Le Pogam, Tommy Lee Jones, Europacorp, Javelina Film Co.