The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada Movie
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Storyline
TAGLINES
For justice. For loyalty. For friendship.
Nobody is beyond redemption.
A man is shot and quickly buried in the high desert of west Texas. The body is found and reburied in Van Horn's town cemetery. Pete Perkins, a local ranch foreman, kidnaps a Border Patrolman and forces him to disinter the body. With his captive in tow and the body tied to a mule, Pete undertakes a dangerous and quixotic journey into Mexico.
| Tommy Lee Jones | Pete Perkins |
| Barry Pepper | Mike Norton |
| Julio Cedillo | Melquiades Estrada |
| Dwight Yoakam | Sheriff Belmont |
| January Jones | Lou Ann Norton |
| Melissa Leo | Rachel |
| Vanessa Bauche | Mariana |
| Levon Helm | Old Man W/Radio |
| Mel Rodriguez | Captain Gomez |
| Cecilia Suárez | Rosa |
| Ignacio Guadalupe | Lucio |
| René Campero | Don Casimiro |
| Juan Gabriel Pareja | Sands Guy No. 1 |
| Hugo Pérez | Man |
| Angelina Torres | Adriana |
| Tommy Lee Jones |
7.70 out of 10 (8079 votes)
Visitor Reviews
tour de force twist on the revenge flick
posted on 19 Aug 2009This film made me cry.NOTE: Somewhat spoiling text follows, but not too bad. I don't think it would spoil your enjoyment of the movie. If it tips your hand toward going out of your way to watch it, it'll be worth it.When does Pepper's character finally break down and admit that he was wrong; that it's wrong to take a man's life and not, at the very least, admit that wrongdoing in the depths of your soul? Mix this with what would otherwise be staid elements of a revenge flick--the lawless, desert borderlands; the taking-of-the-boots; a dear friend to memorialize properly and reverentially--and you've got something very special, if not precious.That said, there are a few weak points. For example, the whole setup involving the murder was not done right. Subsequently, it's up to you to suspend your disbelief a bit and flesh in the dynamic of that sequence; mostly involving Pepper's character's dread and cowardice.Still, not too shabby for a movie that dares to make repentance and redemption a core Western movie value! Finally, a note: How nice to see Levon Helm act! I just reviewed "The Last Waltz," and it's great to see his peculiar grace and style on the big screen.
Superbly Made and Timely per Current Events
posted on 13 Aug 2009While this movie is remarkably important to see today, it truly has a timeless nature. For persons that did not see it in 2005 when it was made, it is a shame. I saw it in 2006. If my predictions on documented and undocumented immigration (not always Mexican)come to pass, it will be an important documentation of life on the Mexican border in 2005. I can fathom this being of educational value for 10, 15, 50, or even 100 years.I give Tommy Lee Jones the highest honors. It is so sad that "corporate American" movies reviews hid this jewel so deftly that I had to be alerted to it by an undocumented Mexican!Tommy Lee Jones, being the protagonist, was marvelously made up and I barely recognized him. The antagonist, a border patrol newbie, did a superb job, and actually redeemed a degree of his self-guilt. I can only hope that more movies will be made in the near future that are of the genre and quality.
excellent cowboy road movie
posted on 09 Aug 2009I really did enjoy this film! If you enjoyed Amores Perros,there is good chance you'll love this one as well. It is quite simple story but very well presented and I think it bears quite a strong message...for me this film was about finding the humanity within ourselves. The whole situation changes just when you look at it from a different angle. This film brought me the idea how terrible it is to kill somebody but shows in one scene as well that even the murder can be blessing for somebody sometimes... maybe the film brought me also better understanding what one has to do for his sins to be rectified. ...and maybe one lecture you as well: never masturbate at work!:)
The Journey of Life and Death
posted on 09 Aug 2009In a first effort for major motion pictures, Tommy Lee Jones pulls off a great piece of work in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. The division between Mexican and American relations across the border is examined in depth as three men must sacrifice everything; life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Each star does their best effort to make the film even more believable than it already is. Tommy Lee Jones in the lead, Barry Pepper as the supporting character Mike Norton, who is significant to the story.I also enjoyed the soundtrack that was used in this film, as it was a country based film, using country music. The other musically thing that was a great addition to this film was that Dwight Yoakam co-stars as well, It always seems though that his character is a strange man, in this case, even more so. Jones directs his cast so well, that it is hard to believe he could be on set when the cast was referring to his character, without laughing.Jones also uses flashbacks quite a bit towards the beginning of the film when the death of Melquiades is being examined and questioned, which then dissipates towards the end, after Melquiades is unearthed to be reburied in Mexico. The final journey then begins, and the story starts to flow smoother.The border patrol, the police, and a man on a mission are the basis for the film. With a man in tow, Pete Perkins has one last thing to do that he promised his friend. The journey that they take is significant of Mikle Norton's personal soul and his maturing as a human being. Therefore, Mike must come to terms with his own demons. Norton is as well faced with irony when the woman that he bat up must treat him, and he did not die.A very scenic film in which Tommy Lee Jones shows that he can be a great director of major motion pictures, and he directs himself with such clarity that the film works so well. The ending of the film when Pete Perkins leaves on horseback as Mike Norton stands watching left me wondering what might happen. Would Norton go back to the United States? Where will Pete go? We may never know, but that is what makes the ending work so well.
Strange Ending. Just a sentimental fiction?
posted on 09 Aug 2009I loved the movie and agree with many of the comments posted thus far. The acting of Tommy Lee Jones (Pete) and Julio Cedillo (Melquiiades) was stellar. I thought January Jones (Mike's wife) did a great job also. But I was a bit disappointed in the acting of Barry Pepper (Mike). I am a fan of Barry Pepper, but think he as done better in other roles.Regarding the story line, I was baffled by the claim by the woman Melquiades said was his wife: that she had never known him. Was it just a sentimental fiction that Melquiades had left a beautiful family behind in Mexico? And what about the town of Jimenez? Did it really exist?
Dead funny
posted on 20 Jul 2009This caught me off guard as it flew under the radar a bit last year. If you have the patience though, it really clicks.Makes a good companion piece to The Proposition, the ambiguity of everyone's motivations, the way first impressions are flipped, the squalor and harshness of the land, its all there. There's less brutality, mind. Violence is clumsy, accidental or ineffective.Inarritu's man Arriaga wrote it and there are scenes I'm sure which are intended to be deadly serious, tragic even, but Jones' direction invests them with elements of his own on-screen demeanour - gruff, blunt and dryly humorous.I honestly laughed more than I have done at some conventional comedies. There's a 'sex' scene early on in the kitchen that's absolutely hilarious.
"Three Burials is First Rate"
posted on 14 Jul 2009"Three Burials of Melquiades Estada" is a first rate hit. It is Tommy Lee Jones's first attempt in film direction, and a complete success. Mr. Jones plays Pete Perkins, a south Texas ranch hand who befriends Melquiades Estrada played by Julio Cesar Cedillo. Melquiades is shot and killed by a border patrolman who is captured by Jones's character. Prior to his being shot, Melquiades insists on Pete's promising him to return his body to his home town, Jimenez, in Mexico if should die first in this country with too many billboards. Pete forces the border patrolman to take the body back and the story revolves around their journey. This film is a black human comedy, and one that should not be missed. Jones has accomplished a masterpiece in his first directorial debut, and he must be extremely proud. Hopefull, he will continue to produce this type of compelling, believable film. My hat is off to him and I give him 10 stars on this cinema.
Flawless indeed... amazing film
posted on 02 Jul 2009Tommy Lee Jones' film about a rancher (Jones) who keeps his promise to his friend and co-worker Melquiades Estrada who wanted to be buried in his homeland in Mexico. The film is slow at times, but gets it point across well, and I believe those instances in the film where not much is going on actually help it in order to put things in perspective for us viewers. The cinematography is artistically beautiful, while the score, screenplay from Guillermo Arriaga (who also appears in the film) and the performancer are first-rate. Amazing how films like this go virtually overlooked in the press and eyes of mainstream American cinema-goers. This film deserves to get all the nomination and award hype that less worthy stuff like Brokeback mountain or even Walk the line have received. This is a true masterpiece from Tommy Lee Jones, who proves hes just as credible in directing as in acting. 10/10
Values Still Exist
posted on 28 Jun 2009Rancher Pete Perkins (Jones) had promised his ranch-hand Mel that if anything happened to him that he would take his body back to Mexico for burial in Mel's hometown. Pete and Mike (Pepper) take Mel back to Mexico after Mel is fatally shot.Although the movie is a slow roll, the fun is in the journey with this one as you are not quite sure what is going to happen next. Add to this they are being chased by the Texas Rangers and the U.S. Border Patrol. Even though there isn't much dialogue throughout, Barry Pepper should get an Oscar nomination for his role here as he is really put thru the wringer by Pete on the journey to Mel's home town. The rest of the cast also performed well under the direction of Tommy Lee Jones.What would have made this more enjoyable would have been the insertion of some humor along the way. Even dry humor would have been nice. But, Director Jones played it too straight and serious. Not that this wasn't serious, but the only humor installed was when Sheriff Belmont (Yoakam) who was having an affair with the wife of Bob, the diner owner, had a case of ED. Funny, but not ha ha funny. Of course, some of the things Pete has Mike do could have passed for humor to some people. Maybe.The cinematography was excellent. I didn't know there was a shifting-sand type desert in Mexico, and some of the high ridges the horses had to negotiate brought back my fear of heights.You will like Tommy Lee Jones' portrayal of Pete, an old time cowboy with old time values. You know, like the kind we are all supposed to have.
Crossing the border between men
posted on 26 Jun 2009Tommy Lee Jones' directorial debut rolls out the expected cast of redneck sheriffs, cheatin' wives and noble Mexican poor but thankfully nobody quite plays according to stereotype. This tells the story of Pete Perkins (played by Jones), a rancher who honours his promise to Melquiades, his illegal immigrant friend, to return his body across the border into Mexico to give him a proper burial in his 'hometown'. In tow, and very much under duress, is Mike (a stunning performance by Barry Pepper) the hapless border patrolman who accidentally shot him.Almost from the outset things start to go clumsily wrong and they just don't stop. An early scene has Pete pouring beer over poor Melquiades' head and briefly setting him alight like a zombie Bombe Alaska, in order to prevent ants from eating him. Later in the movie Pete hits on the idea of pumping Melquiades with anti-freeze to preserve him. I was beginning to wonder if it wasn't all going to degenerate into a sort of "Weekend at Bernies" with cowboy hats. I shouldn't have worried, though. Jones and writer Guillermo Arriaga have created a small gem of a movie with a heart as big as the grand Texas country so beautifully filmed throughout. Everyone comes out of this sadder and wiser, including the audience.Many people have made much of the political aspects of this film, but it feels to me to be more about personal choices. Sad, funny and grim "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" is ultimately about empathy. Mike's closing words, just before the credits roll, show that he has finally come to see things from another man's point of view.
Powerful and affecting tale of redemptive grace
posted on 14 Jun 2009Other reviewers have noted that The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada reminds them of Cormac McCarthy's work, particularly his border trilogy. For obvious reasons the comparison is apt, but the film may owe an even greater debt to the work of Flannery O'Connor, whose two novels and thirty three stories, reveal the grace of God at work in the midst of sudden and surprising violence, ruthless brutality, obdurate selfishness, galling stupidity, and potentially soul-destroying sin. Thematically, O'Connor used the grotesque to illustrate the concept of displacement. Few characters have ever seemed more out of place than Tommy Lee Jones's Pete Perkins or Barry Pepper's Mike Norton lost and on the run in the wilderness of northern Mexico. And few scenes in the history of film are more authentically grotesque than that in which Pete, in a touching attempt to kill the insects that are feeding on the corpse of his late friend, sets fire to Melquiades' upper torso and then tries to extinguish the flames when his face and hair catch fire. Jones, who wrote his senior honors thesis at Harvard on Flannery O'Connor's fiction, understands the power of the grotesque to throw human character flaws and strengths into sharp relief. The film is among Jones's best.
awful awful movie!!!!!
posted on 10 Jun 2009i rented this movie for a good night in. and was it a good night in? NO THE MOVIE IS A DISASTOR!!! this film from start to finish is bland boring and there isn't a plot really its just about a fella who shot another fella and the fella who has the blame is dragged around for the whole film.this film is like a project gone wrong. when i first rented it i was expecting a great modern day western with good action or drama to it. instead i got a bad film. watching barney is more electrifying than this!!! the film is just awful!! i don't mean to be ignorant but how did they not see how bad this film actually is when they were making it. it is so so dull and dragged out!!! it could of been a lot a lot a lot better if they added a load of violence and chasing but even at that i don't think anything could of helped this film!
Leaves you asking a lot of questions
posted on 04 Jun 2009*spoilers* Pete Perkins (Tommy Lee Jones) is a cattle rancher in southern Texas, near the Mexican border. One day Melquiades Estrada (Julio Cedillo) rides up on his horse looking for work and is taken on and becomes friends with Perkins. We understand that Estrada is an illegal. Enter Mike Norton (Barry Pepper), an over-zealous rookie U.S. Border Patrol agent. Pepper convincingly plays Norton as a self-centered, oversexed, quick-tempered, unsympathetic character with little redeeming social value. On lone patrol one morning Norton hears remote shots (Estrada shooting at a coyote). Upon investigating he sees Estrada and in haste fires and kills him.Perkins ultimately finds out that Norton is the culprit and, when he realizes that the local authorities are not pursuing the matter, he takes things into his own hands. He abducts Norton from his trailer and forces him to help carry out a promise Perkins made to Estrada to bury him in his home town of Jimenez, Mexico. This involves a long arduous trek on horseback into Mexico.During the course of this journey you are forced to consider questions that do not have clear answers. Perkins endangered Norton's life, so was he justified in his act of vigilantism? Perkins was an obsessive and stubborn man, could he not have used those personality traits to pursue the matter through the legal system? Would everybody in authority have the attitude that, "Well Estrada is just an illegal, so why bother with him?" I doubt that. And what if Estrada had been a legal Mexican American? How would the story have played out then? What if Estrada had been white, which could have been since Norton's act was impulsive? If the shooting of Estrada had wound up in the courts, Norton would probably have gotten a few years for involuntary manslaughter and, after a few years in prison, would he have emerged as an embittered criminal or repentant and changed for the better? Are we being encouraged to admire the extralegal justice administered by Perkins? Did Perkins initially have any agenda beyond vengeance? Estrada was a likable and hard-working fellow who certainly did not deserve his fate, but is the message being delivered here that all such Mexicans who want into the U.S. be allowed in? What is the answer to the immigration problem then? The policy currently in place seems woefully lacking and you have to think about what would be better. Some big questions surface at the end. Based on a photo and some directions sketched by Estada, Perkins tracks down Estrada's wife in Mexico, but she refuses to acknowledge the marriage. Estrada said he had not been back to Mexico for many years, but had he such little contact with his wife that she had given up on him and remarried? How does that scene change your opinion of Estrada? Nobody in the little town that Estrada had said was near his home in Jimenez had ever heard of Jimenez. Undaunted, Perkins set out in search of Jimenez and convinced himself that he found it. Was he in fact convinced? Did he really find it? Does it matter? Is he crazy? Did Estrada lie about his past? What would become of Perkins and Norton after Perkins rides off into the sunset at the end?The movie is artistically filmed. I never knew that the topography of southwest Texas could be so interesting and beautiful. Part of the appeal is due to filming that shows great attention to detail and use of color. The open landscape focuses attention on the two lone travelers.The casting is near ideal. Jones has perfected a grizzled look that projects melancholy, seeming to reflect some internal anguish or regret.I wish the friendship between Perkins and Estrada had been more well founded--we see but a few scenes of them together before Estrada gets shot. The long journey to the third burial is prolonged, but necessary to show the gradual transformation of Norton from ass to someone capable of caring for others. The redemption of Norton is complemented by that of the bigoted sheriff (Dwight Yoakam); when he has a chance to shoot at Perkins to stop his flight to Mexico, he can't get himself to do it and he finally divorces himself entirely from the whole affair by going on vacation.The acting, the landscape, and the ambiguities presented make this an engaging film.
You Know the Old Saying----A Lot Can Happen in the Middle of Nowhere.
posted on 25 May 2009Tommy Lee Jones obviously went way back in film history and studied the extreme works of legendary director Sam Peckinpah as "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" is almost an homage to that wild and revolutionary film-making style that crept up slowly in the 1950s, was noticed slightly in the 1960s and finally exploded in the 1970s. Jones stars as a ranch-hand in the most desolate and isolated part of West Texas who befriends an illegal immigrant (Julio Cedillo in the titled role). Cedillo is mysterious and leery of being taken back home to Mexico by the Border Patrol. Although half of Jones' age, Cedillo tells Jones where to bury him if he ends up dying in the U.S. Meanwhile a new Border Patrol officer (Barry Pepper) has just moved down to Texas from Cincinnati of all places. Pepper is not exactly a touchy-feely kind of person as he has blatant hatred for Mexicans and seems indifferent with his young wife (January Jones). A freakish accident occurs, Cedillo is killed, Pepper tries to cover up the accident and Tommy Lee Jones finds out just what happened. Thus Tommy Lee Jones comes up with a scheme to kidnap Pepper and bury his friend in his native land of Mexico. While all this takes place, sheriff Dwight Yoakam gets thrown into the dizzying mix, along with local waitress/seductress Melissa Leo via real-time and Quentin Tarantino-styled flashbacks and snap-points. Levon Helm nearly steals the show in a short cameo as an old blind man living right on the border alone that Tommy Lee Jones and Pepper encounter on their long, arduous journey. Tommy Lee Jones is a top-notch director who obviously knows how to film the hopelessness and sometimes utter nothingness of Texas. The narrative development and tone of the picture are also right on target as Tommy Lee Jones lets the camera dictate the action found within and he gets ample support from all the principal performers. "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada", along with the highly under-appreciated "Glory Road", has the cinematic year of 2006 on the right track early on. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Lonesome Dove Revisted
posted on 09 May 2009Tommy Lee Jones play a haggard cowboy charged with the task of keeping his promise to return the body of his murdered friend to the Mexican town he called home. Barry Pepper plays the killer, in denial of his act. Melissa Leo, late of Homicide On The Street, turns in a fine performance as Jones's love interest. Levon Helm has a cameo appearance but one you'll remember.This is Jones's directorial debut. No doubt fans of the Lonseome Dove mini series will smile wryly as Jones takes home his friend, as he did Robert Duvall, this time facing different obstacles to reach his goal.Tommy Lee Jones looks every day his 60 years and one wonders if any make - up was required. He is truly one of the great character actors of his time.
propaganda film
posted on 03 May 2009this is nothing but a pro illeagal immigration film. overzealous border patrol agentBerry Pepper, is presented as abusive. He is also presented as a sexual pervert. He is depictred masturbating out in the open desert, while looking at a hustler magazine. Every white person in the film is depicted in negative ways. The senior border patrol agent is over weight. The town sheriff is also oversexed and lazy. The white women are all tramps. The only people in the film who are depicted as decent, are all the illeagals. One of the illeaagals who was struck by Peppers character, comes to his aid later in the film. This is a very biased presentation. If you are pro illeagal immigration and wish to buy into the propaganda, you'll love this film
An unique movie, that's for sure.
posted on 17 Apr 2009This movie is an unique and original one. There never has been really a movie like "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" before. It's a daring and creative theatrical directing debut from Tommy Lee Jones, that only works halve as successful as it perhaps could have had.But its uniqueness is also were the the main problem with this movie lays. It's hard to know how to watch this movie. The movie starts off as a mostly serious thriller about a murder committed in Texas, close to the Mexican border. Later the movie turns more into a quirky comedy and eventually the movie also becomes an 'Odyssey' like adventure movie. It's really not the most consistent movie ever made with also doesn't make this the easiest or most pleasant movie to watch.The movie also doesn't make things easy for itself. The movie is partly told non-linear with occurrence put in that happened before the killing of Melquiades Estrada. All those moments seem pretty randomly put in the movie which does make the movie unnecessary confusing and hard to follow.Sad thing is that "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" could had been a really great and above all fun movie to watch, had it only been made in one continues style (the adventurous comical one). That way i'm sure I would had really enjoyed watching this movie. I also certainly enjoyed this movie now already for what it was but I just couldn't help thinking throughout the movie how great this movie would had been if it had only been entirely just like its last 30 minutes or so.I understood the movie and its deeper layers and meanings about redemption and friendship but still that doesn't mean that I enjoyed the movie.The movie has some good actors in it but still they can't prevent the characters in this movie from being pretty bland and distant. Their fine and professional performance doesn't bring the story and characters enough to life. Not even Tommy Lee Jones, who normally always is an actor that can carry a movie, even if he only plays a small part in it.Sure, the movie is still entertaining and creatively original enough to consider this a good movie to watch but it also is a movie with lots of missed opportunities. Let's hope Jones has learned from the mistakes he made with this movie and may his next movie be as brilliant as this movie potentially could had been.6/10
not an upper
posted on 15 Apr 2009There was not a sympathetic main or supporting role character you could empathize with in this entire film. The story was about a bunch of cons, sluts and nuts. See this one if you are looking for a stressful downer with no uplifting ending. Just to unbelievable events. Like he found two tiny shell casing in the middle of no where, but they couldn't track these guys on four horses! To many whys at the end. What happened to every one? Did he get caught? Did he get back? Did they get together? Why did he lie? What was she hiding? Did not change my mind on illegal immigration. Went into this movie positive. Came out negative. Save seeing this one for a rainy day. This one is over rated by two or three stars.
Boooooooring.....
posted on 15 Apr 2009I can't believe I've wasted $40 to pay for 4 people to watch this. It was as boring as anything.... The plot seemed to have no point really.Also, some of the scenes made me think of the phrase "small things amuse small minds". Acting was good, but the story sucked big timeThe plastic corpse wasn't too convincing eitherI regarded Tommy Lee Jones after The Fugitive, but not so much any more, seeing that he chose to spend his time on this stupid screenplay....If you have hours and $$ to waste, this is movie is for you
I was really looking forward to seeing this film
posted on 27 Aug 2009I must say that from the previews this looked like just my type of film - powerful, good acting, tense, maybe a bit slow but only in a smouldering-with-tension kind of way. Perhaps that is why I was so disappointed with the plot-less tedium that was Three Burials. A border patrol guard kills a Mexican and this prompts an hour and a half (it seemed like at least 3) of the guard being dragged across the country by the Mexican's friend. And it is revealed that the guard's wife had sex with the Mexican - but with no character development this is simply unfathomable. This utter lack of character development is the inherent problem with the film and it renders most of the characters' actions to be inexplicable. Moreover we are expected to sympathise with the Mexican immigrants yet without any of the protagonists in the film being any more than almost comic stereotypes I was left completely cold. I agree that the politics are sledgehammer PC but this would not have bothered me at all if the film hadn't been so lacklustre. Unfortunately, despite the excellent acting of Barry Pepper as the border guard, this film is as vacant as the Texan desert in which it is set.