Pancho Villa (Antonio Banderas) offers access to film the Mexican revolution for much needed gold to finance his war and counter Hearst's propaganda. Hollywood empresario D.W. Griffith (Colm Feore) is immediately interested. Studio boss Harry Aitken (Jim Broadbent) sends his inexperienced nephew Frank Thayer (Eion Bailey) and a film crew. Sam Drebben (Alan Arkin) is Villa's liaison. After rejecting the initial footage, a new film crew is sent to restage the battles with a younger actor as Villa. The film "The Life of General Villa" would become the first feature film over an hour.
Banderas is solid as Villa. He overshadows Eion Bailey. This needs to be more of a movie about Frank Thayer and his relationship with Villa. This is a fascinating slice of history. It is big enough for a theatrical production despite being a HBO TV movie. Director Bruce Beresford brings his cinematic skills but I would love to have more tension. Thayer has a romance that adds very little to the movie. It should have stayed focus on the Villa Thayer relationship.
Banderas is solid as Villa. He overshadows Eion Bailey. This needs to be more of a movie about Frank Thayer and his relationship with Villa. This is a fascinating slice of history. It is big enough for a theatrical production despite being a HBO TV movie. Director Bruce Beresford brings his cinematic skills but I would love to have more tension. Thayer has a romance that adds very little to the movie. It should have stayed focus on the Villa Thayer relationship.