Machete (2010)

Directed by: Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez | 107 minutes | action, thriller, adventure, crime | Actors: Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro, Lindsay Lohan, Cheech Marin, Jeff Fahey, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson, Cheryl Chin, Electra Avellan, Elise Avellan, Ara Celi, Greg Ingram

Ever since the spectacular fake trailer of ‘Machete’, produced as a pre-film for ‘Grindhouse’, both fans of Robert Rodriguez and Danny Trejo – often the same people – have been waiting for the full-length action smash hit by the duo previously released for ‘Desperado’ and ‘Desperado’. Once Upon a Time in Mexico’. A new series of previews predicted that that wait would be amply rewarded. The film, which seems to be packed with backward quotes, absurd actions and attractive women (Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan, to name a few), also has things in order in terms of male roles. None other than Robert De Niro, Don Johnson and Steven Seagal join Trejo in his quest to bring to the screen the most casually exaggerated Mexploitation ever, touching the casting of the kind of dream ensemble Stallone put together with ‘The Expendables’ – as if it always was intended that the two competitors at the international box office would be released in the same period. Like the latter, ‘Machete’ delivers exactly what it promises: frank and rather top-notch entertainment that invites you to raise your fists and scream at the screen, while the plot of craziness no longer knows what to serve you – and there then goes over.

Machete is a Mexican ex-cop who spends his days as a day laborer in the Texas of racist Senator McLaughlin (Robert De Niro). Years ago he was cheated and left for dead by drug lord Torrez (Steven Seagal, who in his first role as a full-fledged bad guy is reminiscent of David Carradine who braved his opponents with comparable pleasure), which means that he is no longer employed as a federal officer. . When he is subsequently cheated again in an attempt on the senator, the measure is full for him, effectively placing him in vendetta mode. Together with his brother, priest Benito (Cheech Marin, who also previously starred in the fake trailer), a network of illegal immigrants led by Luz (Michelle Rodriguez) and customs officer Sartana (Jessica Alba), he takes on everything he – and the freedom of Mexican refugees – has stood in the way. Including the corrupt McLaughlin and his entourage, a band of rednecks led by Lt. Von Jackson (a surprisingly villainous Don Johnson) guards the American border, and eventually his old enemy Torrez, who pursues complete control of that border. A revenge story so layered with interesting, nonexistent and downright surrealistic figures on both sides of the border that the road to the inevitable final confrontation must be full of astonishing obstacles and solutions, which you have to see for yourself. A dream scenario for the creativity of Rodriguez, who, between the bizarre lines, also has enough to say about the policy of the United States when it comes to its shared border with Mexico. For a potentially messy story that only needs to serve as a setup for the unlikely humor and many successful action scenes, Rodriguez has the plot put together quite well. The basis for the script has been around for a very long time – he conceived the character in 1993 when he first met and cast Trejo for his role in ‘Desperado’. A long way from an initial idea to the final elaboration, although in many of his films Rodriguez already managed to include parts of the ‘Machete’ universe – probably one of the reasons that Trejo often puts away a similar figure under his direction.

Conversely, with ‘Machete’ the director succeeds in borrowing generously from that repertoire, and also in honoring classics from genres that are difficult to characterize by other filmmakers – including Tarantino (‘Kill Bill’) of course. The result is essentially a well-known and immensely exaggerated action spectacle that nevertheless brings new discoveries, an adventure so quintessentially Rodriguez and at the same time so unique that it offers more than enough to reward both the loyal supporter and the new fans. A fact that Rodriguez may eventually use to further explore the universe of your new favorite Mexican – if he actually makes follow-up films ‘Machete Kills’ and ‘Machete Kills Again’. Something that will probably be well worth the wait again.