Machete

Before I break the ice and get into this review, you should know Machete is an PRIME example of an exploitation film and was definitely advertised as such. By definition, and exploitation film will include excessive violence, gore, nudity, and be high on intentional corny lines while low on plot devices and character development. This film personifies all of the facets that a 1970s blaxploitation film would have, except with the Hispanic culture. 

It is pretty much an expansion of a fake trailer that was released together with Rodriguez' and Quentin Tarantino's 2007 Grindhouse. As a big fan of Robert Rodriguez films I must say that this is one of his best films to date. Its pretty much neck and neck with his 2005 hit Sin City. Machete does what a good film needs to do, it keeps a simple plot with some top notch acting. The story revolves around an immigrant, Machete (Danny Trejo), a former Mexican Federale turned renegade. After a shakedown with a druglord (Steven Segal), Machete roams Texas looking to do yard work in exchange for money. 

One thing is for certain Danny Trejo is the star player who is finally getting his due as a lead. For all those familiar with him, know that Trejo was pretty much a bad-ass who made appearances never the leading role, until now. He proves with this film that he is very much capable of holding up on his own. Age never stopped anybody, definitely not in his case.

In addition, to him  I personally was intrigued and surprised at the same time the effort or lack there of Lindsay Lohan's character. Considering she really only has 10-15 minutes of screen time (primarily undressed), her character performs perfectly and flawlessly. In a weird twisted way the role almost appears as though it was written specifically for her (Kudos for stepping up and taking on such a mature role.) This was a great movie for filmmakers and audiences to have an opportunity to see her showcase that talent.

The whole cast in general is a sight to see. Rodriguez pulled the stops with this one including everyone from Steven Segal, Don Johnson, Robert DeNiro, Jessica Alba, and several others. We as audience members get an opportunity see a good mix of actors play roles that may not be expected of them. Rodriguez and Trejo should be commended on how fantastic the role of Machete was played out on the screen. To think at the current age of 66, the action Trejo does is damn near phenomenal. Machete is grand, illustration type of  character who always gets the one-up on the bad guys and the good love of the ladies, and you can just sense that Trejo is loving every moment of it. Thankfully we are too.

Machete is the perfect film to conclude the summer blockbusters of 2010.

Rating: 3 out of 4 stars