El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (Exclusive Mini Review Series)

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (Exclusive Series)

Initial release date: October 7, 2019

Studios: Netflix Sony Pictures Television

Plot: In the wake of his dramatic escape, Jesse must come to terms with his past in order to forget some kind of future.

Cast

Aaron Paul (TVs Westworld) - Jesse

Jonathan Banks (Better Call Saul; Netfli’s F Is For Family) - Mike

Matt Jones (Brightburn) - Badger

Charles Baker (HBOs Perry Mason) - Skinny Pete

Todd Terry - SAC Ramey

Julie Pearl (Better Call Saul) - ADA Suzanne Ericson

Jesse Plemons (Judas and the Black Messiah) - Todd

Tom Bower - Lou

Tess Harper - Mrs. Pinkman

Michael Bofshever (A Dog’s Purpose) - Mr. Pinkman

Scott Shepherd (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) - Casey

Scott MacArthur (Netflix’s The Babysitter: Killer Queen) - Neil

Robert Forster - Ed

Kevin Rankin (Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy) - Kenny

Bryan Cranston (Showtime’s Your Honor; Disney Plus’ The One and Only Ivan) - Walt (flashback)

Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones; The Defenders) - Jane (flashback)

Writer/director: Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad; Better Call Saul; X-Files)

Rated TV-MA (122 min)

In 2019, fans of the ‘Breaking Bad; series got a real shock when Netflix announced via a teaser trailer that a film spin-off would be released shortly.

And, before I get into the mini review, even though this was released a while back, I decided to write a mini review for ‘El Camino’ after binge-watching the show again! Haha! Anyway … onto the mini review!

‘El Camino’ is not as fast-paced as most of the ‘Breaking Bad’ episodes. But, it ends up being a solid addition to the franchise and a great way to wrap up the story of Jesse Pinkman.

The film spin-off also delivers a good deal of suspense and a few familiar faces also take part in the film. If you have real close attention, you will notice some nods from past episodes.

‘El Camino’ is one of those films that mainly fans of the series would enjoy. You don’t really have to watch the whole series to really understand the movie - just the last season if you need a refresher!

So if you haven’t had the chance to check out this addition to the ‘Breaking Bad’ franchise, then I seriously recommend it!

Here are some interesting tidbits about ‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’ (some may contain spoilers):

• This is Robert Forster’s last movie to be released while he was alive. It was released October 11, 2019, the day he died.

• Aaron Paul said in a recent interview that there are no plans for a sequel to this movie and this would be a wrap up for Jesse’s story.

• During the beginning of the movie, a shot of a Twisters restaurant in New Mexico is featured. This restaurant was used as Los Pollos Hermanos during past seasons of ‘Breaking Bad.’

• The original idea was for this to be a 15 to 20 minute short.

• Vince Gilligan freely admits that this film probably wouldn’t have been made if ‘Better Call Saul’ hadn’t proven successful.

• Some cast members were approached for the film without knowing it had anything to do with ‘Breaking Bad’ while others had to swear secrecy that they wouldn’t reveal to their friends and family what they were actually working on.

• The original title was ‘63’ as it would effectively be the 63rd episode of ‘Breaking Bad.’

• The scene where Jesse and Walt stay in a hotel and sit chatting in a diner is set in the time of the ‘4 Days Out’ episode where they both get stranded in the desert and nearly die.

• Characters Mike Ehrmentraut and Ed Galbraith (Disappearer) are the only characters to appear in all three forms of ‘Breaking Bad’ canon: ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Better Call Saul’ and ‘El Camino.’

• Bryan Cranston was flown by private jet during a 2 day break during his Broadway stint on ‘Network’ to film his top-secret cameo.

• Gilligan had the idea for ‘El Camino’ while writing the final season of ‘Breaking Bad.’ He asked himself what would happen to Pinkman after the finale. At the time of the conclusion, Gilligan offered two possible fates for Jesse: a more realistic one where he was caught by police a few miles from the compound, and a second, more optimistic one where Jesse got away but still had to cope with the terrible things he had witnessed throughout the series.

• It wasn’t until near the 10th anniversary of the series that Gilligan started sharing the idea with former cast and crew members as a means to celebrate the milestone.

• Gilligan wrote the scene of Walter White and Jesse sitting in the diner in a light-hearted tone, with the intention of providing one last chance to see the two characters together as a final treat for the fans.

• The initial length of the film’s rough cut was nearly 3 hours long, with an estimated 30% of footage left on the cutting room floor.

• Due to the secrecy of the project, fans and critics alike were taken aback by the sudden announcement, as well as by learning that the release date would come sooner than expected.