Machete
An action exploitation flick from Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror, Sin City), and produced by Quentin Tarantino. The film is an expansion of a fake trailer Rodriguez directed for the double feature Grindhouse, made with Tarantino in 2007.
Machete (the prolific Danny Trejo's first lead role) is a renegade, former Mexican Federale. Broke and in need of work in Texas, he meets a local businessman named Booth (Jeff Fahey) who offers him a large cash payment for the assassination of corrupt local senator, McLaughlin (Robert De Niro). About to carry out the task, Machete is double-crossed and shot. Turns out he was being used as a patsy – Booth, working for McLaughlin, staged the 'assassination' to help create sympathy for the senator and anti-immigrant feeling within the electorate.
In hospital but under around-the-clock police watch, the wounded Machete escapes and teams with Luz (Michelle Rodriguez), his brother (Cheech Marin) and a group of illegal immigrants to hunt the people who double crossed him. Also stars Steven Seagal, Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan.
- Director:
- Robert Rodriguez ('Planet Terror', 'Sin City', 'Spy Kids', 'The Faculty', 'From Dusk Till Dawn', 'Desperado', 'El mariachi')Ethan Maniquis (feature debut)
- Writer:
- Robert RodriguezÁlvaro Rodríguez
- Cast:
- Danny TrejoMichelle RodriguezJessica AlbaRobert De NiroLindsay LohanCheech MarinJeff FaheyDon JohnsonSteven Seagal
Reviews & comments
"They just f****d with the wrong moviegoer..."
The fake trailer in GRINDHOUSE was fantastic - one of the best moments in the entire movie - but sadly this extended version fails to be either funny or entertaining. Neither homage nor pastiche this just doesn't work - despite De Niro's presence and a great cast. Robert Rodriguez has made some great adult movies (and some crap kids fare) - but this neither...
Barking mad stuff!
Butt- ugly "hero"? Check. Insanely gorgeous women? Check. Thoroughly grounded, meaningful storyline? ya gotta be kidding!! Absolutely, hilariously barking mad from the get-go with gallons of gore and mayhem thrown in for good measure. This is revenge-fantasy stuff that doesn't take itself seriously for a moment - and neither should the viewer....
Variety
pressWildly uneven as it doggedly strives (sometimes with obvious strain) to sustain a free-wheeling, anything-goes air of exuberant junkiness.
The New York Times
pressFor all its political button pushing, Machete is too preposterous to qualify as satire. The only viewers it is likely to upset are the same kind of people who once claimed that the purple Tinky Winky in "Teletubbies" promoted a gay agenda
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe ensemble cast -- ranging from an Oscar winner (De Niro) and faded action star (Seagal) to a B-movie vet (Fahey) and tabloid fodder (Lindsay Lohan, not exactly playing against type as a drugged-out, hell-raising sexpot) -- pretty much offers something for everybody.
Empire Magazine
pressThis is not the down-and-dirty homage to ’70s sex and violence promised by its pre-emptive trailer — or only sporadically so. The cast work hard — Trejo oozes bad-ass charisma — and the film has some outrageously enjoyable set-pieces, but overall, the convoluted plot and Rodriguez’ agenda spoil the fun.
Variety
pressWildly uneven as it doggedly strives (sometimes with obvious strain) to sustain a free-wheeling, anything-goes air of exuberant junkiness.
The New York Times
pressFor all its political button pushing, Machete is too preposterous to qualify as satire. The only viewers it is likely to upset are the same kind of people who once claimed that the purple Tinky Winky in "Teletubbies" promoted a gay agenda
Hollywood Reporter
pressThe ensemble cast -- ranging from an Oscar winner (De Niro) and faded action star (Seagal) to a B-movie vet (Fahey) and tabloid fodder (Lindsay Lohan, not exactly playing against type as a drugged-out, hell-raising sexpot) -- pretty much offers something for everybody.
Empire Magazine
pressThis is not the down-and-dirty homage to ’70s sex and violence promised by its pre-emptive trailer — or only sporadically so. The cast work hard — Trejo oozes bad-ass charisma — and the film has some outrageously enjoyable set-pieces, but overall, the convoluted plot and Rodriguez’ agenda spoil the fun.
"They just f****d with the wrong moviegoer..."
The fake trailer in GRINDHOUSE was fantastic - one of the best moments in the entire movie - but sadly this extended version fails to be either funny or entertaining. Neither homage nor pastiche this just doesn't work - despite De Niro's presence and a great cast. Robert Rodriguez has made some great adult movies (and some crap kids fare) - but this...
Barking mad stuff!
Butt- ugly "hero"? Check. Insanely gorgeous women? Check. Thoroughly grounded, meaningful storyline? ya gotta be kidding!! Absolutely, hilariously barking mad from the get-go with gallons of gore and mayhem thrown in for good measure. This is revenge-fantasy stuff that doesn't take itself seriously for a moment - and neither should the viewer....
Share