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The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
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The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) More at IMDbPro »

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The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) -- Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico.

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   16,249 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Tommy Lee Jones
Writer (WGA):
Guillermo Arriaga (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 February 2006 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Crime | Drama more
Tagline:
Nobody is beyond redemption. more
Plot:
Ranch hand Pete Perkins looks to fulfill the promise to his recently deceased best friend by burying him in his hometown in Mexico. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
4 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Melissa Leo
 (From The AV Club. 30 July 2008, 9:01 PM, PDT)

Stars Sing Up a Storm at Independent Spirit Awards
 (From WENN. 5 March 2006)

User Comments:
Dead man riding more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Tommy Lee Jones ... Pete Perkins

Barry Pepper ... Mike Norton

Julio Cedillo ... Melquiades Estrada (as Julio César Cedillo)

Dwight Yoakam ... Belmont

January Jones ... Lou Ann Norton

Melissa Leo ... Rachel

Levon Helm ... Old Man with Radio

Mel Rodriguez ... Captain Gomez
Cecilia Suárez ... Rosa

Ignacio Guadalupe ... Lucio
Vanessa Bauche ... Mariana
Irineo Alvarez ... Manuel (as Irineo Álvarez)
Guillermo Arriaga ... Juan

Josh Berry ... Border Patrolman

Rodger Boyce ... Salesman
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Three Burials: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (Australia) (DVD box title) (UK) (DVD box title)
The 3 Burials of Melquiades Estrada (USA) (alternative spelling)
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (International: English title)
Trois enterrements (France)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for language, violence and sexuality.
Runtime:
121 min | Argentina:121 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival) | Turkey:107 min (TV version)
Country:
USA | France
Language:
English | Spanish
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Netherlands:12 | Ireland:15A | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | Germany:12 (f) | USA:R (No. 42191) | Finland:K-13
Company:
Europa Corp. more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The producers tried to sway Tommy Lee Jones from using Mexican pastel colors for the title cards, but he told them he wouldn't budge on his decision. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: After the hotel scene, when Pete and Melquiades Estrada drop the girls off at their vehicle, Melquiades Estrada gets back in the truck and puts the window up, a crew member can be seen in the reflection of the window. more
Quotes:
[Pete is forcing Mike to sleep besides the body of Melquiades Estrada]
Mike Norton: Hey! Hey, you!
Pete Perkins: My name is Pete.
Mike Norton: Well, Pete, the ants are eating your friend.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Three Burials: Making the Music (2006) (V) more
Soundtrack:
You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
101 out of 133 people found the following comment useful:-
Dead man riding, 21 December 2005
8/10
Author: jotix100 from New York

"The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" is a surprise. Directed by Tommy Lee Jones, marking his first time behind the camera, with a screen play by Guillermo Arriaga, this is a film that tells a story about an murder in a troubled border area between the US and Mexico. The film is loosely based on a true story that happened in that part of the country some years ago.

Pete Perkins is a decent man. When his ranch hand is killed under mysterious circumstances, Pete jumps into action. Pete wants to take his friend, Melquiades Estrada, across the border to Mexico to make sure he receives the proper burial he deserves. A coyote has lead to the first burial site and the following investigation involves the local sheriff, Belmont, but Pete will have none of that.

Pete's investigation leads him to the corrupt border guard Mike Norton. Perkins captures the man and with the body strapped to a horse and his captive in another, Pete begins the long journey to Mexico. He passes the hot land between the two countries in a voyage that will bring Melquiades to his home.

The separate narratives at the beginning of the film are somehow confusing and the viewer is advised to pay close attention to it since it has multiple stories going on at a time when we don't know much of what is happening. We get to meet the cruel Norton and his bored wife Lou Ann. It also serve as the way to tell us how Pete and Norton meet.

Tommy Lee Jones, with his rugged looks, brings a tremendous presence to his own film. Mr. Jones is a decent man who can't stand the injustice his hired hand suffered as he delves into solving the mystery of Melquiades' death. Barry Pepper is quite good as the nasty Mike Norton, a man who gets much more than what he bargained for. Dwight Yoakam, January Jones and Melissa Leo are seen in minor roles. Julio Cedillo plays the dead man, Melquiades Estrada.

Tommy Lee Jones is blessed to be working on his first venture with the great cinematographer Chris Menges. Mr. Menges' take on the scenery is one of the best things in the film. The musical score by Marco Beltrami is also another asset. The editing of Roberto Silvi sets the tone for the early part of the movie.

"The Three Deaths of Melquiades Estrada" shows us a mature Tommy Lee Jones who has learned his lesson well in front of the camera. Now, working behind, as well as directing himself and his amazing cast, he shows a humongous talent that ought to be seen in future ventures.

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Stick with acting, Tommy Lee. chowdog2
I Really Loved This Movie retav
'He is beyond redemption' ??? Novosibirsk
This movie made me laugh... ShirleyM-4
The Pretentious Weekend at Bernie's ddk999
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