Fernando Durán Movies
The Mexican film AK-47 Temible Cuermo De Chivo takes its premise from a popular song. The title weapon helps turn a shoeshiner into one of the most feared marksmen of his time, but he uses his skills for evil after suffering continual humiliations from the woman he loves. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Per its title, the Spanish-language docudrama Tragedia en Waco Texas recounts the grisly end of the Branch Davidian compound in April, 1993, in Waco, Texas. This gripping and disturbing reenactment, helmed by Mexican director Fernando Durán, dramatizes the events preceding, during, and following the Janet Reno-ordered FBI siege on the 'Mt. Carmel Center' headquarters of the religious cult masterminded by the ill-fated David Koresh - during which a fire reduced the entire operation to a pile of ash. The film stars Jorge Reynoso, Jorge Ortín , Ana Luisa Peluffo and Polo Ortín. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jorge Ortín, Jorge Reynoso, (more)
A pair of lifelong friends looking to escape the violence and corruption of their homeland in Medellin, Columbia, and start a successful business in Mexico City find that no matter how far you run, you can never truly escape your past in Fernando Durán Rojas' action-packed tale of hope and brotherhood. Their dreams crushed by the violence that surrounds them in Medellin, Beto and Rodrigo opt to seek their fame in Mexico City instead. The cruel grasp of corruption reaches further than they anticipated, though, and upon being pitted against one and other by a crooked senator, the pair quickly discovers that, in the ruthless realms of crime and business, not even your best friend can be trusted when times get tough. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Macario Rivero's home in Apasco has been overrun by a pair of ruthless brothers, Rosendo and Gabino Mendoza, and he has no intention of letting them get away with it. He gathers a band of willing citizens to rise up against the tyrannous brothers, but things get more complicated when it turns out that Macario's daughter has become involved, and she's having an affair with Gabino. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- 1987
Sheriff Frederick Jackson (Eric del Castillo) seeks an operation to separate his Siamese twin boys in this symbolic and unusual western. Luis Mario Quiroz plays Fred and Erick, who are allowed to reach childhood before undergoing the operation. Erick dies and inhabits Fred's body, and the soul of the departed brother seeks vengeance against those who led to his death. Dr. Jack Miller (Mario Almada) and the local judge (Alfredo Gutierrez) are targeted for retribution along with the boy's father. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Erick del Castillo, Mario Almada, (more)
- 1987
The English-language title of this Mexican-Spanish coproduction is Blinded by Fate. At first, the film focusses on three Mexicans, whose dreams of striking it rich in America are doomed to failure. Eventually, the story narrows down to the travails of one of the three, played by Julio Aleman. Branded with a false criminal charge, Aleman knows that he will never be able to hold his head up with pride in Mexico or America if he does not clear himself. A sad story, told with moments of unexpected delicacy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Ruthless gangsters engage in bloody power struggles and a series of vendettas in this crime drama. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
When the daughter of a prominent politician becomes a kidnap victim, her cousins try to retrieve her and seek vengeance. The two heroes take action separate from the police operation to free the hostage in this routine crime drama. The shootout scene surprisingly lacks cinematic firepower. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sergio Goyri, Edgardo Gazcon, (more)
This action film is about drug dealers whose personalities are not that different than the police officers and narcotics agents out to get them. Yet the message, delivered repeatedly, is that drugs are bad and dealing in drugs is worse. Chief drug boss Ernesto Castro (Sergio Goyri) and his minions are the objects of one car chase after another, alternating with shoot-outs on a regular basis. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sergio Goyri, Rebeca Silva, (more)
This tortilla Western has a story based on the lyrics of a ballad, and stars Fernando Almada as Jesus Coronado and Mario Almada as Demetrio Coronado, two brothers in real life who make approximately eight of these films a year. This time Jesus has just served a 10-year prison sentence, is minus a leg, and as he returns home with a new model horse and gun, flashbacks bring the story up to date. Demetrio and Jesus had to defend their property against villains who not only wanted the hacienda but also wanted the woman Jesus planned to marry. Mineral deposits on the land raise the greed level of the desperadoes to an unbearable intensity, and they attack, strewing corpses right and left until only the wounded Jesus remains to face a prison sentence. Along the way to this mayhem and Jesus' revenge, there are an inordinate number of songs performed by Tex-Mex groups like Los Cadetes de Linares. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Almada, Isaura Espinoza, (more)
Having reconciled their differences to unite against a common enemy, at the end of the Mexican Revolution two families resume their personal feud. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
Fernando Duran's action film Juan Armenta El Repatriado concerns the title hero teaming up with his twin in order to defeats group of bad guys. Their relationship complicates when, after that adventure, he begins an affair with his twin's wife. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
