Machete

About three-and-a-half years ago, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez teamed up for the ambitious film, Grindhouse, which I saw in the theater. That film consisted of two films paired together with trailers to fake films that was intended to invoke the spirit of the old b movies from the 70's. The whole thing was long but I found it to be a fairly enjoyable experience, if not a masterpiece. It wasn't intended to be a masterpiece so it accomplished its goal of being a fun homage. I know there were a lot of people who didn't like it at all. One of the trailers was for a movie called Machete and it was that trailer, which featured the great Danny Trejo in the lead, that got the biggest response from the crowd when I saw the movie. So well did that trailer go over, that it was decided to make it into a film of its own. It was one of those rare times where a trailer was made for a film that did not exist and a film had to be subsequently built around that trailer.

Well the movie that was made opened a few weeks ago and I went to see it. I don't go much these days to the theater to see films, not like the old days when I used to see movies all the time it seemed. I recommend it, its not for everyone, of course. It's more of an entertaining action film rather than a literary film or some sort of high drama. Danny Trejo is "Machete", a former Mexican federale, who runs afoul of Steven Seagal, a drug dealing federale and the fun ensues. There is a great cast in the film, with Jeff Fahey as a particularly oily campaign manager (and much more) for Robert De Niro's racist state senator, Lindsay Lohan as Fahey's daughter. Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez are very easy on the eyes. Don Johnson plays a sleazy redneck sheriff-type. I'll be picking this one up on DVD, too bad its not doing better at the box office. It could have a fun sequel.