Also known as Duck, You Sucker, Sergio Leone’s 1971 Western stars James Coburn as John, an IRA revolutionary with a penchant for dynamite who fled Ireland for Mexico, and Rod Steiger as Juan, a Mexican bandit who targets the rich and pompous. When Juan crosses paths with the explosive-tossing John, the two men start off as adversaries in a game of one-upmanship but eventually become partners and finally friends. Juan has no illusions about the Mexican revolution and is simply out for gold. John, driven by guilt and betrayal, is committed to the revolution and he drags Juan into his mission. Coburn plays the role as a tormented hero under the mask of a smile, while Steiger adopts an exaggerated Mexican accent but his physical performance is impressive as he transforms from shuffling peasant to bandito patriarch to bank robber to unlikely hero of the revolution. Ultimately, Leone’s epic of the Mexican revolution is a portrait in disillusion featuring one of the most eccentric and touching friendships in the director’s oeuvre. A Fistful of Dynamite was a financial flop and is not as well-regarded as his most famous movies, but it remains an interesting and engaging film about commitment, idealism, loyalty, and betrayal in the midst of revolution. Extras include audio commentary tracks by filmmaker Alex Cox and film historian Christopher Frayling, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
A Fistful of Dynamite
Kino Lorber, 157 min., PG, DVD: $19.99, Blu-ray: $29.99 Volume 33, Issue 3
A Fistful of Dynamite
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