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      And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

      TV-MA 2003 1h 50m Drama List
      Reviews 53% 500+ Ratings Audience Score Loosely based on real-life events, this film follows renowned revolutionary Pancho Villa (Antonio Banderas) as he attempts to procure funding to overthrow the Mexican government. Villa strikes up an intriguing agreement with Hollywood director D.W. Griffith (Colm Feore), who is interested in paying the rebel for the movie rights to his exciting story. Soon, young film executive Frank Thayer (Eion Bailey) is joining Villa on his dangerous and violent exploits. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered May 09 Buy Now

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      And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

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      Audience Reviews

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      Claudiu I It seems a bit goofy and childish, but when I found he is almost correct from history point of view I dropped the jaw. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 11/28/23 Full Review Michael W This biopic movie was great. Antonio Banderas, Eion Bailey, Michael McKean, Alan Arkin, Jim Broadbent, and the rest of the cast did a great job in this movie. This true story about the making of the movie about The Life of Pancho Villa was dramatic, intense, and action-packed. It's about making an epic film about a legendary hero of Mexico. If you're a member of HBO Max, you should watch this movie sometime. It's worth watching. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Absolutely an interesting story and a grand movie - much because it says a lot about movies meant in the early days, and due to the costly production design with scenografic realism, and true locations and extras. However, as a story it still lacks some engagement and balance. Banderas' portayal of Pancho Villa gets animated and loses credibility. Some of the other characters are also on the verge to being parodies. Too bad - this could have become a classic. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member As a portrait of Villa (though a snapshot) this was highly accurate in capturing his character and persona as well as the general style of fighting and Villista mystique. Having just finished reading _Villa and Zapata_ I rather enjoyed this movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Well written screenplay conveys the true story of the absurdity of American business. Dashingly photographed with attention to the lighting, for a screen filled delight for the eyes. Believable acting makes the realism harsh and fun as we watch a real war with people dying. Health and safety was ignored during the original filming and Mexicans died. Nibbles: Mixiotes, Carnitas. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member The movie begins with a bunch of elitist white men bickering about how they are going to make and profit from a live-action film of Pancho Villa as himself and his revolutionary Mexican army. I try to stay away from films about films. I appreciate Hollywood film and its history but movies about movie making tends to lose my interest. As this film moves along, we begin to see more of who Pancho Villa was and what his passions and motives were. The story seemed to shed light on Villa's life that is otherwise ignored or forgotten in history. Banderas is the perfect Pancho Villa. No one could do it better. Unfortunately, the lead actor alongside Banderas was miscast in my opinion, (Eion Bailey). Alan Arkin's appearances are infrequent, which is good in my opinion because his humor and ruthless violence were tasteless and out of place. Its always nice to see Arken, even when he's collecting teeth from dead bodies, but his presence is a typical American filmmaker tactic to bring comic relief and bravo-machismo which relieved the film of some of its authenticity. A commendable effort for a TV movie, (HBO). Still, the romanticizing of war and killing in light of making a movie (within a movie) strikes a moral chord for me. Even when it seemed that Frank Thayer (Bailey) and his small film crew became invested in more than just making a movie, they were willing to risk the lives of Pancho's Villistas in order to "get a better picture". The whole idea behind this is absurd. I don't care about movie contract disputes in the middle of the Mexican Revolution. But this film tries to make you care. an execution speaks many words and tells a sad story. Many times in this picture people lose their life in the blink of an eye and it just serves as background noise, a prop, a distraction. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (3) Critics Reviews
      John Leonard New York Magazine/Vulture ... actually stars Antonio Banderas as Pancho Villa, and a terrific job he does of it... Jan 27, 2018 Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper Fascinating stuff here. Sep 8, 2003 Full Review Rob Blackwelder SPLICEDWire Rated: 3/4 May 22, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Loosely based on real-life events, this film follows renowned revolutionary Pancho Villa (Antonio Banderas) as he attempts to procure funding to overthrow the Mexican government. Villa strikes up an intriguing agreement with Hollywood director D.W. Griffith (Colm Feore), who is interested in paying the rebel for the movie rights to his exciting story. Soon, young film executive Frank Thayer (Eion Bailey) is joining Villa on his dangerous and violent exploits.
      Director
      Bruce Beresford
      Screenwriter
      Larry Gelbart
      Production Co
      Columbia
      Rating
      TV-MA
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Aug 10, 2016
      Runtime
      1h 50m
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