El Topo (1970)

Alejandro Jodorowsky isn’t a shy filmmaker.  He claims to be the father of the midnight movie and you can see why with El Topo (1970). This was only his second feature length film and the scope of it is truly vast.  He claims it isn’t a western, but you cannot deny the western elements.  The director himself plays the gun toting title character and goes around the desolate landscape with his son meeting all sorts of mythic characters.  All I could think for the first third of the film was how dry that kid’s skin had to be wearing nothing in that sandscape but boots and a hat. He couldn’t have a pair of pants? It is a mighty adventure where almost too much happens but the spectacle is a marvel.  There are also some Fellini-like casting choices and no shortage on the budget for red paint. 

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