Just perfect...

Great Film overall

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Robert Duvall never disappoints, even when he appears in a modestly budgeted (only $2 million) independent effort. You have to give the man credit, he was eighty two when he made this picture when most of the other old hosses would have been put out to pasture. It was 2003's "Open Range" that convinced me that Duvall is my favorite modern day actor, an idea reinforced whenever I see him in a picture I haven't viewed before.Take this one for example. He's got the churlish, old man gimmick down pretty well with the facial grimace and repetitive 'Yeahs' to follow up his poignant observations about life and it's consequences. Where the story line takes an unexpected turn occurs when hit man Cholo (Joaquin Cosio) takes out the two grifters who hitch a ride with Red Bovie (Duvall) and his grandson Gally (Jeremy Irvine). All the while one expects the pair of outlaws to hijack Bovie and steal his car, leaving the rest of the story for Red to pursue the men and make good. So that was a twist I didn't see coming.The other one was Red hooking up with the senorita Patty Wafers (Angie Cepeda), an arrangement that doesn't look like it would work but between them, they make sure that the old adage of opposites attracting still works. I'm on the fence with the character of Gally, actor Irvine looked miscast for the part to my thinking. If not for the connection between his own father and the estranged relationship with Red, I don't think it would have worked, but there was something in there that clicked for the elder Bovie, especially after learning that James got his ticket punched on a commuter train back home.It was cool to see Abraham Benrubi in the story as Big Roscoe Hamill, arranging a four hundred dollar getaway from Mexico when drug kingpin Panama (Luis Tosar) zeroed in on the drug money left behind in Red's car. Benrubi appeared as one of Duvall's ranch hands who was murdered on the trail in "Open Range", and just like he did here, it's Duvall's character who sets out to make things right when he's crossed.

If you like Robert Duvall's mature movie roles, you'll probably enjoy this kinda funny, kinda violent, definitely profane little comedy drama.The supporting actors were just OK in my opinion, but it may have just been the contrast with Duvall that made their parts pale. I did like the casting of the female lead because of her classical full body look instead of the skinny, hyper-pretty crap that's all too common these days. In a nutshell, the flick is heartwarming in a violent and gritty kind of way. I suppose it's a spoiler to say it ends happily, albeit in a totally unexpected way. On the other hand, I can't help thinking I would have enjoyed it more knowing the old fart comes thru smelling like a rose. Being an old fart myself, the ending was truly like a dream come true.

I doubt I've ever seen a Robert Duvall movie that was not worth watching and the same can be said of this one. Duvall plays a cranky old coot not ready to take up the rocking chair and I hope he isn't ready for a long time. A decent premise to the movie and several places that make you smile. If you like crotchety hard-headed old folks this is the movie for you. While in all respects a slow movie I didn't regret a minute. I wish IMDb didn't require ten lines for a review because I doubt I've had ten lines to say about any movie.But it's nice to be able to give one a good review, one that isn't cr*p found footage and one where the acting enabled the suspension of disbelief for a couple hours.

A Night in Old Mexico was well-received in its North American Premiere at the SXSW Film Festival. Some of our great actors age poorly and take easy money making roles (such as Robert DeNiro in Last Vegas and the Meet the Parents series), but Robert Duvall is still doing some serious acting. In A Night in Old Mexico, he plays a character that is likely not that different from himself. He plays a crazy old Texan united with his wayward grandson and looking to have a last thrill ride in south of the border. In some ways, the role is reminiscent of Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman. The thrill ride takes a few unbelievable twists and turns, but it is still enjoyable to see how much spunk the old fellow still has. I'm not sure this will get much of a wide release, but if you have a chance check it out. Duvall remains a worthwhile entertaining old curmudgeon in old Mexico.