Machete

Starring: Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan, Don Johnson
Directed by: Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
2010

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After being framed for an assassination attempt on a state senator (Robert De Niro), a former Federale (Danny Trejo) decides to seek revenge on those who wronged him.

Review:

Tim: Did we really need this movie? I mean, maybe, but I'm not convinced. On the one hand, I think the idea of basing a feature length film on a fake trailer from another movie is a clever, original idea. On the other hand, basing a movie on a fake trailer is a pretty stupid idea (I know the fake trailer was itself based on the fully written screenplay by Robert Rodriguez, but still). I suppose people who love B movies and exploitation films will probably like this movie. I personally found it absurd, nonsensical, and overall, not a very good movie at all.

However, it's hard to judge a film when it goes so out of the way to be purposely ridiculous. The film features some of the cheesiest dialogue I've ever heard, more gruesome violence than is necessary, and so many absurd moments that I completely lost track. And yet, that's exactly what this film was trying to achieve. So, in that light, you could call this movie a success.

And yet, for me, it's not a complete success. The story is about a Mexican ex-federale, Machete, who tracks down a whole host of bad men and kills them for various reasons. It's all very confusing and not exactly entertaining. Well, I suppose if mindless, nonstop violence is entertaining, then you may be entertained. I personally prefer some reason for violence, which this film wasn't interested in providing. There's definitely a story involved, but it almost doesn't really matter. The film is all about violence.

As much as I want to hate this movie, I understand that it's not that simple. I really believe that to a certain extent, movies should be judged based on what they were trying to be. You can't rate a movie like Machete the same way you'd rate an Academy Award contender, because this film was never trying to be that kind of movie. While I can't say I'm the biggest fan of exploitation movies, this movie was a pretty effective one. It doesn't really matter if that's the kind of movie I like or not- that's what Machete is. You have to respect that.

As far as the cast, I suppose you have to given Danny Trejo credit for bringing Machete to life. He's not a fantastic actor, but he was the only person who could play this character effectively. I don't have any criticisms of him. The rest of the cast is impressive, although they don't all work as well. Robert De Niro, Jeff Fahey, and Steven Seagal all have meaty enough parts to be pretty enjoyable to watch. Jessica Alba isn't a great actress, and that shows here. Michelle Rodriguez was pretty good, and I have to say I've been increasingly impressed with her as an actress, even in a film like this. I love Cheech Marin, and I loved him in this film. He greatly helped it and I'm glad he was in it. Lindsay Lohan had no real point to her character and was mostly a huge waste of time. Big surprise there.

I admit I'm struggling with this film. On the one hand, it's a loud, obnoxious, absurd, extremely violent, offensive, ultimately pointless movie. And yet, that's exactly what it was trying to be. How do you judge that? I have to say that I didn't really enjoy Machete, but I couldn't completely hate it, either.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Grindhouse: Death Proof, Grindhouse: Planet Terror