Rating of
3/4
Machete Makes the Cut
Chris Kavan - wrote on 09/19/10
I have to hand it to Robert Rodriguez, he knows how to make a good grindhouse movie. He did it with Planet Terror and strikes again with Machete. Danny Trejo looks like 10 miles of bad road, but he's perfect as the lead: an ex-Mexican federale turned assassin turned vigilante - yes that's a lot of roles, but it's all Trejo looking seriously pissed, cutting off limbs or getting down with all the smokin' women in the movie.
The supporting cast is eclectic, yet perfectly suited to this film. You have Robert De Niro in all his scene-chewing glory as a hard-line anti-immigration Senator, Michelle Rodriguez as leader of an underground movement, Jessica Alba as the ICE agent who eventually sees things Machete's way, Jeff Fahey as the Senator's assistant and Cheech Marin as Machete's brother - the priest with firepower. Also along for the ride is Lindsay Lohan, Don Johnson, Tom Savini and Steven Seagal.
The violence is over-the-top fun as head roll (literally), limbs fly, eyes are gouged, bullets fly and there are plenty of explosions. In keeping with the grindhouse tradition, there is also plenty of gratuitous and pointless nudity thrown in - though all of Machete's conquests are left to the imagination (with 70s porn music thrown in for good measure).
As for the people who think there's some underlying political message to this film? Please. There's no illegal migrant uprising being called for - all I see is a bunch of actors having a good time. There's plenty of racism in the film, and it doesn't paint the border patrol in a good light, but as for inciting riots? People over-react to way too much these days.
All in all, Machete is a good time, provided you don't have problems with sex and violence. I find that having a bit of that spice in your life helps things and in this case, Machete came just at the right time - a shot in the arm as summer winds down.
