A Fistful of Dynamite | Rotten Tomatoes

A Fistful of Dynamite

PG

1971

2 hr. 19 min.

Western

List

92%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

At the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1913, greedy bandit Juan Miranda (Rod Steiger) and idealist John H. Mallory (James Coburn), an Irish Republican Army explosives expert on the lam from the British, fall in with a band of revolutionaries plotting to strike a national bank. When it turns out that the government has been using the bank as a hiding place for illegally detained political prisoners -- who are freed by the blast -- Miranda becomes a revolutionary hero against his will.

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Critics Consensus

Duck, You Sucker is a saucy helping of spaghetti western, with James Coburn and Rod Steiger's chemistry igniting the screen and Sergio Leone's bravura style on full display.

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Peter S

In a few words, Serge Leone brilliant. His last directed and most politically overt film. No Clint Eastwood or Lee Van Cleef. I love those actors in Spagetti Westerns, but what Steiger and Colburn do in this movie is a modern marvel. All the emotions of war, revolution, civil unrest, criminal proclivities/motives, family bonds/family meanings, racial conflicts, are explored. These characters are malignant, yet made very human and demonstrating clear humanity. Self interest leading to heroism and back again. Back and forth, with seamless transitions. The interplay of opposing perspectives- marvelous, outstanding. What else can I say? Some may see this film as dated and lacking technical achievement. I have never since, in any movie, viewed the issues and subjects presented here done so well. No wonder Leone wanted to go out as a director with this film. It is not only overlooked; the movie is this superstar director's crowning achievement. Bravo!!!! Now I will see if in 2024, DUNE: PART 2 can come even close to this simple Spagetti Western's effectiveness given the latter's SCI-Fi context and modern technical effects.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/24

Full Review

Dane W

sergio leone at his best

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/29/23

Full Review

TWMax65

This movie's directing and score by Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone respectively are stellar (as they always are with their other collaborative projects, just the perfect duo and may they RIP). This is up there and comparable to the Good the Bad and the Ugly imo (although I still like that one a bit more). While there are slow scenes, this movie is filled to the brim with action and even humor! The scene when they blow up the desert bridge, when they blow up two trains at once, and when they break into a prison thinking it's a bank are really well-done scenes. I had a great time watching this and it's not only a great action movie, but a beautiful movie!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/03/23

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

Although he'd never intended to helm the movie himself Duck, You Sucker aka A Fistful of Dynamite holds the distinction of being Sergio Leone's final venture into the Western genre. In contrast to his previous films that shattered idealised depictions of the American West, A Fistful of Dynamite opts to dismantle comparable notions concerning revolutions and societal class divides. Despite the politically charged setting, it was not meant to be a political statement. Leone made it clear that the Mexican Revolution depicted in the movie is simply a symbol and not an accurate representation of the real event. Yet it draws upon real-world circumstances and imagery from both world wars during a period where Italian filmmakers were 'rethinking' their relationship to fascism. The tone is significantly lighter than his previous outings, with more elements of sly comedy just as much as the painful reality, reminding us that even in the noblest of causes, comes death. Topped by a haunting and rousing score by Ennio Morricone, Leone's obsessive close-ups, a marvellous sense of detail, spectacular effects and the comradely chemistry of Coburn and Steiger ignite an emotional explosion worthy of rediscovery.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/11/23

Full Review

Steve D

A lot of talent but not much to show for it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/23/23

Full Review

james r

Masterpiece on the Mexican Revolution. One of, if not the best, film by Sergio Leone. Rod Steiger starts out as a bandit, just like Pancho Villa, and later becomes a revolutionary. Along with him is James Coburn, a former Irish Revolutionary and explosives expert. The two go toe to toe at first and then decide to rob, "not a bank...but THE BANK". Neither being interested in the Revolution at first soon change their minds. Film also known as, "Duck, You Sucker.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Sergio Leone

Director

Rod Steiger

Juan Miranda

James Coburn

John H. Mallory

Romolo Valli

Dr. Villega

Maria Monti

Adelita

Rik Battaglia

Santerna

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Budd Wilkins

Slant Magazine

Sergio Leone’s acerbic revolutionary epic A Fistful of Dynamite posits the notion that, when the bullets start flying, rather than turn rashly heroic, it’s best to keep your head down.

Mar 18, 2024

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

The idiosyncrasies are there, all right, but they have never seemed less interesting.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 4, 2007

Full Review

Time Out

The most wry of the political spaghettis, and wholly wonderful.

Jan 26, 2006

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

As with most Leone works, A Fistful of Dynamite (which also made the rounds under the monikers Duck, You Sucker and Once Upon a Time ... the Revolution) is full of sly humor and startling camerawork.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 31, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The film is overlooked, missing big name stars, and released with numerous different titles since its premiere, but it's still a memorable entry in Leone's Western pantheon.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 29, 2020

Full Review

Robert Sullivan

Los Angeles Free Press

Well, Leone still has his sense of humor.

Jan 7, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

At the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1913, greedy bandit Juan Miranda (Rod Steiger) and idealist John H. Mallory (James Coburn), an Irish Republican Army explosives expert on the lam from the British, fall in with a band of revolutionaries plotting to strike a national bank. When it turns out that the government has been using the bank as a hiding place for illegally detained political prisoners -- who are freed by the blast -- Miranda becomes a revolutionary hero against his will.

Director: Sergio Leone
Screenwriter: Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Donati, Sergio Leone
Production Co: Euro International Film (EIA) S.p.A.
Rating: PG
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016

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