Sergio Sorbucci, although not as known as Sergio Leone, made some pretty cool spaghetti westerns. They are dirty, rough, fun and brutal. His best work are undeniably Django and The Great Silence. This film, Il Mercenario, is entertaining but lacks a strong narrative. The plot, involving a mercenary and a revolutionary, is about the Mexican revolution. But it never gives the sense of urgency the previously mentioned films have. Especially the final third is messy and features more climaxes than a porn movie. Some are good (the attack on the Mexican village with a freakin airplane, the shootout in the arena), others not so much (the sheep shooting climax, for a lack of a better word). Franco Nero is, as always, great. But Tony Musante isn't as charismatic as a Tomas Milian. Great soundtrack, one that Tarantino loved to recycle.
Review of The Mercenary
