Michael O'Keefe
This HBO cable film skirts fact and fiction; nonetheless, very interesting. Legendary Mexican revolutionary, Pancho Villa, convinces famed movie director D.W. Griffith to enter a money making project. General Villa (Antonio Banderas) finds himself strapped for money in his war with Mexico's dictator Victorio Huerta. American arms are hard to come by due to an embargo pushed by the wealthy William Randolph Hearst. Villa makes Griffith (Colm Feore) an unheard of offer of unrestricted access to film actual combat between his forces and the Mexican Federales. Pancho seems to be an astute businessman, as he is a social freedom fighter. All he wants is 25 grand and about 20 percent of profits from the documentary.Special effects appear too good for a TV movie and Banderas IS Pancho Villa. Mr. Banderas is a natural and fully in his element. Also in the cast: Kyle Chandler, Damian Alcazar, Eion Bailey, Michael McKean, Matt Day, Alexa Davalos, Cosme Alberto, Saul Rubinek and Alan Arkin.
s-Rachel
Because it is just a great story from start to end. I was riveted the whole time. I kept saying to myself, "I can't BELIEVE these people did this!" The entire cast was very good, especially the few leading roles. But Antonio, who is always very good, was maybe at his best here. There was no Antonio as the beautiful boy. Here he's dirty, sweaty, scummy, grubby, and yet he still shines. If Pancho Villa was anywhere as charismatic as Antonio makes him, he had to be one hell of a leader.I hate that most of the best movies out in the last 10 years are all sitting in stacks of ONE on some video store shelf, being totally overlooked. Did this one ever even make it to the big screen?
runamokprods
From a funny, complex, dark and political script by Larry Gelbart, with a smashing lead performance by Antonio Banderas, and lovely support by a number of actors (first and foremost Alan Arkin cast way against type as a mercenary machine gunner, who makes the part completely his own) – this is a terrific retelling of a hard to believe but true story of the revolutionary Pancho Villa getting Hollywood to film his real life war as a way of netting good publicity and public support. I love the way the film effectively mixes the tragedy of war with comedy, an epic feel (amazing considering it was made for HBO) with intimate character moments. Not everything works. There's a love story that feels a little shoe-horned in, and some ideas get repeated a few too many times, but this is a terrific satirical look at Hollywood, war, politics and how they all dance together. And it's not afraid of making Pancho Villa a hero with a dark side, a man of good intent but huge, unchecked ego as well.
Claudio Carvalho
In 1914, the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa (Antonio Banderas) invites studios to shoot his actual battles against Porfírio Diaz army to raise funds for financing guns and ammunition. The Mutual Film Corporation, through producer D.W. Griffith (Colm Feore), interests for the proposition and sends the filmmaker Frank Thayer (Eion Bailey) to negotiate a contract with Pancho Villa himself. They become very close and along months, Frank makes the first feature five reels length movie, "The Life of General Villa", when the usual was two reels only. After edition, another reality about Pancho Villa is screened for the audience."And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" is a surprisingly good made for television movie. The story about the life of Pancho Villa is also homage to a lost movie. In accordance with the legend, the first five reels length movie would be "The Life of General Villa", directed in 1914 by Frank Thayer with Pancho Villa as himself. Truth, or legend, this interesting movie was nominated for Golden Globe, awarded with seven wins and another eighteen nominations. The cast is splendid, highlighting the performance of Antonio Banderas, who gives a great credibility to General Pancho Villa. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "E Estrelando Pancho Villa" ("And Starring Pancho Villa")
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