3 Businessmen

3 Businessmen is a 1998 surrealistic, comic-drama film offering an unconventional exploration into the absurdities of modern-day corporate world and culture. The film is directed by talented British filmmaker Alex Cox, renowned for his experimental approach in filmmaking. The leading trio includes Miguel Sandoval, Robert Wisdom, and Alex Cox, all of whom deliver masterful performances to do justice to the labyrinthine narrative of the film.

At its heart, 3 Businessmen revolves around two incongruous businessmen who traverse continents, venturing into the heart of international, urban chaos during their pursuit of a good meal. The two central characters are Benny Reyes, played by Miguel Sandoval, an art dealer from America, and Frank King, played by Robert Wisdom, a somewhat uptight English businessman. Both characters exhibit eccentricities that make them peculiar portrayals among conventional movie characters and add a certain level of charm to their personalities. The supporting cast comprises Alex Cox, perhaps best known for his directorial ventures, who steps in front of the camera to portray Leroy Jasper, adding an additional layer of sophistication to the casting.

The narrative begins as Benny and Frank accidentally meet when they find themselves in a hotel in Liverpool, where the classic business trip awkwardness lays the groundwork for the ensuing narrative. The two are flabbergasted at the realization that there's no room service available at the hotel (a concept unfathomable to international businessmen), sparking their quest in search of food that takes them from Liverpool to Tokyo and eventually, the Mexican desert. As they wander through three different continents, their quest metaphorically and literally takes them from the heart of urban life to almost desolate landscapes - a stark contrast offering a unique commentary on modern existence.

Although the premise rings of a buddy movie due to the characters' shared goal, 3 Businessmen defies traditional genre constraints. It combines artistic and aesthetic elements from different film genres such as comedy, road movies, absurdist cinema, and business dramas, creating a unique cinematic experience. Combining elements of comedy, satire, and drama, Director Alex Cox successfully balances a tightrope walk between humor and cynicism.

Complementing the overall narrative is witty dialogue that often reflects on the condition of the modern businessman in society. The humor finds its root in the characters' frank appraisal of their absurd circumstances, contributing to much of the film's charm. Much of the dialogue incorporates socio-political commentary, seamlessly delivered by the characters as they navigate their peculiar mise-en-scene.

As they journey across the world in their pursuit of food, Benny and Frank grapple with the triggers and demands of urban life that encapsulate the human struggle with technology. Live-wire telephones, inoperable elevators, cryptic hotel receptions – each element serves as a symbol for portraying the failure of technology in urban solutions.

The cinematography complements the narrative's surrealistic elements, creating visual spectacles of the contrasting landscapes – from the indulgence of urban settings to the desolation of arid landscapes. The images struck through graphics and paintings additionally offer a visual twist to the undertones of existentialism, providing a certain depth to the storyline.

Far from being just a simple quest, 3 Businessmen is an unconventional portrayal of modern life that cultivates an array of visual and narrative conundrums. The narrative, though seemingly absurd, leaves viewers pondering several paradoxes of life, existence, and the human connection with technology and urbanity.

The performances by the film’s trio contribute eloquently to the film’s comic yet poignant tone. With the absurdist recurrence of humor and the effortless marriage of the elements of comedy, satire, and drama, 3 Businessmen offers a cinematic experience that's vivid, surreal, and refreshingly original. The film is a must-watch for those who relish alternative cinema and appreciate a narrative that's far from the beaten path, and rather, purposefully lost in a labyrinth of its own design.