Movie : Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia

A Mexican crime boss offers a million dollars for the head of Alfredo Garcia. the man who impregnated his teenage daughter. Two hitmen hired to find Garcia go into a cantina in Mexico City and question the patrons about Alfredo. Bennie an American lounge singer in the bar knows Alfredo but doesn’t cop to the hitmen. Later on Bennie finds out from his girlfriend that Alfredo is dead. Bennie sees a an opportunity to make a few $$$. Go get Al’s head, “He isn’t using it anymore”. Thing is, Bennie isn’t the only one after the head of Alfredo Garcia. It’s a race to get the head and stay alive.

You want a low rent, road movie Sam Peckinpah style this is for you. I saw this back when and it was right up my alley. This was before CB knew what a cult movie was. Since that time that “cult” tag is hung on the film. It’s rough, unpolished, dirty, dusty, violent, funny. And I liked it. Off the wall and certainly not a mainstream Hollywood movie. Sam couldn’t do it any other way.

First thing Sam did was to hire Warren Oates as the lead. About as far away from a leading man, box office draw as he could get. I love Warren and he brings his rumpled natural self to the role of Bennie, a low rent piano playing singer down on his luck (with a huge pair of shades). Getting Al’s head is Bennie’s ticket out of shitsville and into the bigtime. Bennie justifies getting the head saying to his girlfriend “Al wanted you do be happy didnt he?”

This is the kind of film I really like. Appeals to my film tastes. Sleezy off the wall crime flick with lots of humor. Low rent lead character. So many good scenes. Oates singing ‘Guantanamera’ is a keeper. Talking to the head as he’s driving. Trying to be inconspicuous with a head in a bag with every fly in Mexico buzzing around it. I rewatch this stuff just to remind me of the stuff that shaped my likes. Good simple story, get Alfredo’s head.

Take a ride through Mexico with Sam, Warren and a bag with a head in it (Along with a couple flies), The film gets bumpy but I didn’t mind. The only thing that gets dirtier that Bennie’s piece of shit car is Bennie’s white leisure suit. I’m just glad they weren’t after Cincinnati’s head.

‘You two are definitely on my shit list”