Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

The film Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) tells the story of El Mariachi, who is recruited by CIA officer Sheldon Jeffrey Sands for a mission. He must take down General Emiliano Marquez, a corrupt Mexican Army officer working for drug lord Armando Barillo. Barillo plans to assassinate the President and overthrow the government during a time of civil unrest in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa. Years ago, El Mariachi’s wife and daughter were killed by Marquez in retaliation for a previous confrontation. Along with El Mariachi, Sands enlists retired FBI agent Jorge Ramírez to kill Barillo, who had also killed his former partner Archuleta. AFN operative Ajedrez is also assigned to keep an eye on Barillo at Sands’ request.

While monitoring Barillo’s activities, Ramírez meets Billy Chambers, an American fugitive who has been living under his protection. But Chambers can no longer stomach the horrible tasks he’s been forced to carry out for Barillo. Ramírez convinces Chambers to help him get closer to Barillo by tagging his pet chihuahua with a hidden microphone. In exchange, Ramírez promises to provide Chambers with protection and ensure his surrender to U.S. authorities once Barillo is taken down. Meanwhile, Sands’s agent Cucuy, who was hired to watch El Mariachi, betrays him by tranquilizing him and delivering him to Barillo. He also offers to reveal details of Sands’s plan. However, Chambers quickly takes care of Cucuy before El Mariachi escapes from captivity and calls upon his friends Lorenzo and Fideo for assistance in their mission.