Get the Gringo
Gibson - for all his offscreen controversy - still has his star-quality charisma, and Grunberg is a worth protege for the Oscar-winning writer/actor/director.
InGet the GringoMel Gibson plays a no - safe old-timer crook ( credit as " Driver " ) , who winds up in a Mexican prison after literally doss the mete while making his escape from the cops . That dysphoric arrival is compounded by the fact that the million in cash that Driver stole from a infamous crime boss is immediately lifted off him by some corrupt Federales .
Driver finds himself as the only ' gringo ' ( livid human ) in the Mexican prison town known as " El Pueblito , " where anything goes ( except for escape ) and crooks like Javi ( Daniel Giménez Cacho ) and his hatchet man brother Caracas ( Jesús Ochoa ) execute the show . equipment driver quickly acclimates himself to his new surroundings - pulling of ravishment , arson , and much lowly thieving - until things get complicated when hunt across a small boy ( Kevin Hernandez ) who is keeping a vengeful eye on Javi .
Driver and the boy realise each other as kindred life and strike a Julian Bond . That alliance come with consequences , as Driver shortly finds himself sucked into a position with cops and crook from both sides of the border all look to put the trauma on him - and his young booster . Backed against the bulwark , Driver has to use a lot of smarts and small morsel of good ol' fashioned gunfight to get himself out of prison house awake , save the male child - and of course , recover his lost Johnny Cash .
IfGet the Gringosounds a lot like the 1999 Gibson - star crime dramaPayback , it ’s because itisa lot like that film … only mark in Mexico . From the narration glide slope ( dry , sarcastic , voice - over narration ) to the persona penning ( brutal but likeable vocation shepherd’s crook ) , to the universal way of life of the plot … permit ’s just say that if you were a rooter ofPayback , you ’ll be a fan ofGet the Gringoas well . That is , if you do n’t mind an copiousness of Spanish - speech communication dialogue and English subtitles .
The cinema was co - written by Gibson ( probably account for the character similarities ) , first - meter screenwriter Stacy Perskie and director / co - author Adrian Grunberg , who has collaborated with Gibson on bothApocalyptoandEdge of Darkness . The story is a moderately aboveboard retaliation tale , but is elevated due to the uniqueness and vividness of the public that Grunberg captures in the film . Penal colony are n’t a raw concept in picture ( though you commonly find them in the sci - fi genre ) , but " El Pueblito " becomes a slightly gripping place once you warm up to it , and there is heap of stress , black humor , and legal action to keep thing engaging . While Grunberg true is still make out into his own in term of cinematic construction , this is a square first attempt on a feature film .
Gibson is a pro at playing the slightly - unhinged tough guy ( see : deadly Weapon , Edge of Darkness , Payback ) and his man - with - no - name manages to be fairly charismatic while being totally morally bankrupt . Not an loose john to tear off . seasoned actors Daniel Giménez Cacho and Jesús Ochoa make for gravid villain - Cacho play the stylish - but - monstrous boss valet de chambre , and Ochoa play a unpitying but soft - spoken thug . Character player like Bob Gunton ( 24 ) Peter Gerety ( The Wire ) , Dean Norris ( stop Bad ) , Scott Cohen ( Pan Am ) and Peter Stormare ( Fargo ) all encounter the slimy types from both sides of the border that Driver must combat , con , and kill . Adding to the telling batting order is young actor Kevin Hernandez , who has managed to be a standout in both this film and last yr ’s comedyThe Sitter . The characters in the film are all zippy and entertaining , but are admittedly familiar ( but still enjoyable ) crime movie archetypes .
There is a fair amount of activity inGet the Gringo(several quondam west - style shootout ) , but most of the film consists of Gibson ’s fictional character conning and manipulate his way through the Mexican underworld , often in comical and clever way . The coda of the film is especially satisfying ( and a bit thrilling ) in this regard , as Driver handles his mounting problem in passably much the most direct and destructive manner one can . lover of hard - boiled offence - capers are go to be appropriately quenched .
In an interesting twist , Gibson is foregoing the theater system and releasingGet the Gringoon Video On need services in the U.S. adopt that into business relationship , the movie is certainly worth a lease as it will leave a suitable good time for fans of Gibson , and/or rooter of tales from the underworld . ( NOTE : I would probably shave a half - principal if we were talking about a theatrical spillage . ) Gibson - for all his offscreen disputation - still has his star - character charisma , and Grunberg is a deserving protege for the Oscar - winning writer / actor / managing director .
Get the Gringois now uncommitted on Video On requirement services ( in the U.S. ) . Check with your cable provider . The film is Rated R for substantial bloody ferocity , permeating spoken communication , some drug use and sexual material .
Daniel Gimenez Cacho and Jesus Ochoa are the bad guys in ‘Get the Gringo’
Daniel Gimenez Cacho and Jesus Ochoa are the bad guys in ‘Get the Gringo’
Mel Gibson in ‘Get the Gringo’
