Few Bucks, Very Big Bang

A nifty, no-budget movie makes Robert Rodriguez, 24, the industry's newest bet for directorial stardom

What will $7,000 get you?

A Concorde round trip, New York-Paris, plus cab fare.

A frock from Christian Lacroix.

Ten months of expert baby-sitting at a Manhattan preschool (mornings only).

Less than one second of Steven Spielberg's summer epic Jurassic Park.

Or El Mariachi, the new year's most entertaining movie and sweetest surprise.

Robert Rodriguez, the film's writer, director, co-producer and editor, describes his action comedy -- about a singer-guitarist mistaken in a Mexican border town for a killer who totes his artillery in a guitar case -- as "a taco Western." We'd call it a rough, funny Mad Mex. Now...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!