Film Reviews

Machete

• Rating:
• Director: Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez
• Starring: Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba, Robert De Niro, Lindsay Lohan, Steven Seagal
• Details: US/104mins 18

Robert Rodriguez once again co-directs a film, this time based on one of the trailers between his poorly received collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, Grindhouse. Feeling like a favour, not just to Danny Trejo, but half the cast, Machete really should have been more fun than it turned out. Michelle Rodriguez is by far the best thing about this otherwise slapdash production that often feels like a parody film without the jokes. Trejo is enigmatic former Mexican policeman, Machete. After his family is murdered by Steven Seagal's sword wielding drug baron, he sets up a stall in America and inadvertently becomes part of the Mexican resistance fighting against the right wing, conservative nuts led by Robert De Niro's senator and Jeff Fahey's political strategist. Jessica Alba pops up as an immigration officer, while former stubble brush Don Johnston also makes an appearance - mostly shooting the aforementioned Mexicans. There's a heavy, not so subtle underlining here that attempts to reflect the current situation on the Mexico/USA boarder that never works because the majority of the characters are stereotypes. That shouldn't be a massive issue in a film that originated from the cheesy, exploitation cinema of the 70s; the focus should be on fun, and any socially relevant storyline subtly injected. Although the main problem with Machete is more the barrage of poorly played characters - few of who serve a purpose. Rodriguez, co-directing with his former editor, is an immensely innovative filmmaker who has previously shown a firm hand with such blood-drenched material. Predominately working from his own studio and from his own scripts, he's obviously a collaborative sort, but working outside of the studio system can also be a bad thing when 'reigning it in' might sometimes help the production. Once Upon A Time In Mexico was another overblown affair - after the brilliance of Desperado - while some of the more kiddie friendly stuff doesn't match the quality, on any level, of Sin City. There is some decently, but not spectacularly, handled action, and Michelle Rodriguez kicks vast amounts of ass. But Trejo lacks the charisma to hold the screen, while peripheral characters (Seagal, Lindsay Lohan) feel like stunt casting. A big disappointment.

Review by Mike Sheridan