The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Featuring a screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros, 21 Grams), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is a tough, gritty little Western that marks the directorial debut of Tommy Lee Jones (who also stars). As one might expect from a script by Arriaga, the film features a heavy emphasis on time-shifting – much of the film’s first act follows two separate storylines, with one having happened a few days in the past – though this isn’t even remotely as complicated as 21 Grams. Jones plays Pete Perkins, a grizzled foreman who doesn’t take too kindly to the murder of his ranch hand, Melquiades Estrada (Julio Cesar Cedillo). He does a little digging and learns that a green Border Patrolman (Barry Pepper) is responsible, and it’s not long before Pete has kidnapped said Patrolman and forced him to return Melquiades’ body to his wife (under Pete’s watchful eye, of course). The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada moves at a deliberate pace and Jones imbues the movie with a solid, straight-forward sense of style, and though the movie is hurt by an overlong running time, the performances by both Jones and Pepper are engaging enough to keep the viewer intrigued throughout.

**1/2 out of ****