The American Beauty and Jarhead actor read the script and allegedly dismissed it as “the most absurd thing I’ve ever read”. Instead, Robert De Niro ended up playing the hardline Texas politician, which is actually a better outcome. Nevertheless, the issue here isn’t De Niro’s evaluation of potential jobs, but Cooper’s. “The most absurd thing I’ve ever read”? Really? Has he never scanned a copy of Take A Break magazine? (This week’s cover story: “Mum Knows Best: My Baby’s Not Dead!”) By not leaping on board Rodriguez’s Troublemaker pickup truck and digging his Machete designs, Cooper missed out big time. I get the impression that he not only failed to see the point (Machete is meant to be absurd!) but also narrow-mindedly rejected a significant piece of pop culture because it seemed a bit silly and schlocky. This picture has a point (in fact, it has several very sharp points and Danny Trejo wields them all so skilfully). I put it to the world that Machete is a highly relevant film that should be appreciated, pondered upon and regarded as a crucial artefact as we move into a bold future of movie entertainment. Even if it isn’t the monolith that will project us through a cosmic evolutionary experience, in my view, Machete is a vital cinematic touchstone of progressive power and sentient character. Philosophically, I see solutions and possibilities for Hollywood salvation in the thing. If they don’t want dirty stones and bad translations of Far Eastern spirituality in their fancy offices, then the movie moguls can just put up one of the very cool Machete marketing posters on their wall. Like Guy Pearce in Memento using tattoos to remember his purpose, the gurus need to stay grounded, and keeping Rodriguez’s kickarse riot of a flick in mind can help them do that. With his ‘Mariachi-style’ the moviemaker teaches us much about filmmaking and the fundamental principles of motion picture entertainment. Machete is possibly the strongest expression of his methods and core ideals, so observe and absorb the following slithers of wisdom offered up… Inspiration and empowerment is essential Machete is 66-year-old Danny Trejo’s first gig as an action movie lead after years as a cult supporting player. It’s sweet to see the grizzly-faced, hardass icon’s career trajectory finally take him to a starring title role, but also to see an authentic, inspirational ‘gutter to the stars’ story reach a milestone. Movies should be uplifting and inspire people and well told underdog tales help them access hope and determined resolve. Audiences deserve motion pictures that empower them and shouldn’t be insulted by patronising products that put them down. If Hollywood isn’t providing that galvanisation and fair representation, it’s up to the marginalised to create their own media to build momentum. Cash is crass and can kill the spirit of invention. Looking back to his debut movie, El Mariachi, Rodriguez managed to produce an enjoyable and intriguing hitman flick on the most meagre of budgets (half of which he raised from participating in clinical drug trials). Machete may have been made with far more than $7,000, but it’s still a pretty inexpensive venture if you consider other material cranked out by big studios and Rodriguez’s economical approach makes sense in the ‘current harsh climate’. You don’t need to splash the cash to make spectacular movies. It’s okay to have obscene amounts of fun Rodriguez’s work isn’t to everyone’s taste, but if you’re up for the trip you’ll have a blast. You can tell that everyone involved enjoyed making this movie and the sense of enthusiastic energy seeps from the frames. I’d rather feel that kind of a vibe at the cinema than get the sense I’m watching something that has been pumped out in workmanlike conditions as ‘just another job’. Politics needn’t be po-faced The immigration issues and subtexts about American society are central to Machete and it does nice work in mirroring the real world back upon the audience. It’s a movie with a message but not a ‘message movie’ in that it doesn’t batter you with heavy-handed preachiness. Here endeth the lesson. Marvel at Machete and venerate it as a sage, sharp-edged mentor. James’ previous column can be found here. Follow Den Of Geek on Twitter right here.
