Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia! (1974)

This is one of the most divisive films I know of. It’s not like a Kubrick film were, even if someone doesn’t like the film, they still praise the craftsmanship. People either think this is a great film, or a violent piece of garbage. BMHAG isn’t a pretty film. The characters aren’t really that likable. Bennie, played by the immensely underrated Warren Oates, is a loser and while I don’t feel he’s evil, he’s not someone who always does the right thing. But, Warren did such an amazing job making him feel human. Oates is one of those actors I will watch, even if I know the movie will be bad, because I feel like he did so much, even if he had so little to work with. Sam Peckinpah and Monte Hellman both really gave him his best work. I appreciate that they saw what a great character actor he was and cast him accordingly.

Anyway, BMHAG!, like most of Peckinpah’s work, is an ugly portrait of humanity. Sam didn’t make films about heroic types. He doesn’t show the heroic sheriff that stops that bad rustlers. Instead he films those dirty rustlers, and gives you a glimpse into their soul. You’re given a chance to see their humanity. Sam wasn’t the first to do that with a bad character, but he was the first that did it in the way he did. He doesn’t give you the sad backstory of why they turned bad, but you get to empathize with them. The character of Bennie isn’t a villain, but he’s not a good guy either. I’d say more about the character, but the film must really be seen and judged by the viewer.

This is one of my favorite movies, and I’ll probably only grow to appreciate it.