El Mariachi

Desperado had a big-name star, Antonio Banderas, plus the seal of Quentin Tarantino credibility (he had a cameo role), but director Robert Rodriguez's debut feature is still the more endearing film. Essentially, this is a no-budget (reportedly made for just $7,000), no-frills dry run for Desperado, but with a much more ambivalent hero. Where Banderas is a heroic figure from the outset, Carlos Gallardo, the mariachi of the title, is an innocent musician mistaken for a lethal killer who's gunning for Mob boss Peter Marquardt. The film's origins are clearly visible - let's just say that the acting is enthusiastic - but Rodriguez carries off the action set pieces with confidence and style, and there are some truly comic moments.