Matando Cabos (2004)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Alejandro Lozano

Writers:

Tony Dalton (writer)
Kristoff (writer)

Release Date:

16 July 2004 (Mexico)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

A killer mob comedy.

Plot:

A dark, offbeat comedy about a group of Mexico City teens embroiled in a kidnapping involving a retired wrestling legend and a parrot. |

Awards:

4 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Tony Dalton	...	Javier "Jaque"
Ana Claudia Talancón	...	Paulina Cabos
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	Oscar Cabos
Kristoff	...	Mudo
Raúl Méndez	...	Botcha
Joaquín Cosio	...	Ruben "Mascarita"
Gustavo Sánchez Parra	...	Nico
Rocío Verdejo	...	Lula
Silverio Palacios	...	Tony 'El Canibal'
Jacqueline Voltaire	...	Gabriela Cabos
Pedro Altamirano	...	Nacho
Norman Sotolongo	...	Cholo
José Ángel Bichir	...	Ulises
Alejandro Galán	...	Juan
Mary Paz Mata	...	Tere

Also Known As:

Killing Cabos (Australia) (TV title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive violence and language, some strong sexuality and drug use.

Runtime:

Japan:103 min | USA:94 min | Mexico:99 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Japan:R-15 | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | South Korea:15 | Mexico:B15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Colonia Polanco, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía (IMCINE)

Trivia:

The title is a play on words: "Matando Cabos" means "Killing Cabos" Cabos is the last name of one of the characters. But if the "M" is removed it becomes "atando Cabos" that means "Tying lose ends".

Movie Connections:

References Taxi Driver (1976)

A great improvement of Mexican Cinema

"Matando Cabos" is the title of Alejandro Lozano's debut film, that even when it shares some similitude with American Films, such as "Pulp Fiction" and "Taxi Driver", it stands as a great movie, bringing a refreshing breathe to Mexican commercial cinema.

The major attractive of the film lies in its screenplay. The story is about two best friends, Jaque and Mudo, that are involved on a critical situation when they accidentally kidnap their boss, the sadistic and rich Oscar Cabos, and they hide him on Jaque's car. Meanwhile, a kidnapper's band, directed by the son of Cabos' ex-best friend, plan to take him to ask for money. But they take the wrong person and that's how a series of funny events, plagued with a black humor-screenplay, are shown by a bunch of hilarity characters that add a special charm in the movie.

Of course, this film is far from been compared to "Amores Perros", "Y tu Mamá También" or "El Crimen del Padre Amaro", which were deeper and focused on complex and even controversial issues. On the other hand, in "Matando Cabos" we have a well written and light story from the beginning to the end.

Finally, it's very remarkable the use of f/x for the car-chase scene filmed in the Estadio Azteca, supervised by people in charge of effects for "Matrix", that is the most expensive scene ever done in Mexican Cinema's history and by the way, the best Mexican action film. That's the reason why the film was released on summer, because it's able to compete against the mega-budgeted productions.

One of the best movies of the Mexican commercial films that vindicates national cinema with its fresh air and leaves the door open for future indie and risky films that are changing the face of Mexican movies. Great film, excellent casting, very funny and catchy. Don't miss it.

9 out of 10