Herod's Law
(1999)
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Herod's Law
(1999)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Damián Alcázar | ... |
Juan Vargas
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| Pedro Armendáriz Jr. | ... |
López
(as Pedro Armendáriz)
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Delia Casanova | ... |
Rosa
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Juan Carlos Colombo | ... |
Ramírez
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Alex Cox | ... |
Gringo
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Miguel Ángel Fuentes | ... |
Pancho
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Noemí García | ... |
Secretaria
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Guillermo Gil | ... |
Cura
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Ernesto Gómez Cruz | ... |
Gobernador
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Leticia Huijara | ... |
Gloria
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Luis de Icaza | ... |
Alcalde Alfredo García
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Eugenia Leñero | ... |
Esposa del nuevo alcalde
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Eduardo López Rojas | ... |
Doctor
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Yari Lorenzo | ... |
Esmeralda
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Pedro Lorza | ... |
Cadáver
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After the corrupt former Mayor is killed by the peasants, poor janitor Juan Vargas is appointed new Mayor of a desert town in central Mexico. Although he tries to bring the motto of the ruling party to town (modernity, peace and progress) he realizes soon that there's nothing to do against corruption... except to become corrupt. Step by step, helped by his pistol, Juan Vargas becomes the law and the worst Major in the town's history. Written by Maximiliano Maza <mmaza@campus.mty.itesm.mx>
With the sardonic tone of a political cartoon, Luis Estrada skillfully
presents government the way you know it works: standing on
scandal, bribes, brutality and general treachery. Herod's Law is set
at ground zero of political corruption, Mexico's revolutionary party,
PRI. Herod's Law is an excellent balance of farce and bite. Luis
Estrada frames excellent performances from his cast. Damian
Alcazar provides a superb performance as the hapless, dutiful
member of the PRI thrown into a leadership position and is slowly
infected with power and all the neurosis and paranoia symptomatic of a whetted appetite. The story is excellent, the
narrative arc is well-crafted, and performances outstanding. It is
true, however, that the film fails to introduce anything novel.
However these are all considered trademarks in the political
cartoon business. The film deals solely with established
archetypes, it doesn't introduce new concepts or engage with any
unfamiliar issue. It does little beyond reinforcing stereotypes and
confirming preconceived notions. However, the art of the political
cartoon is the playfulness with which the cartoonist employs these
arch characters. Herod's strength is the playfully exaggerated
treatment of the subject. The posture is almost vaudevillesque in
its rhythm. The tone perfectly describes the whirlwind madness
that envelopes a man as he descends from idealist to practicing
politician.
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