Satire seems to be a common weapon of choice when political rhetoric does not work out. The satire could be sharp enough to cut via any subject. Immigrating is one for example. ”Machete” got some film reviews that show the Robert Rodriguez “Mexploitation” gore fest showing that even though satire isn’t that great, it certainly did a lot with immigration. ”Machete” is the type of movie that ends up giving tons of ideas to the audience from the beginning to the end.
”Machete” may be one of those films that comes dangerously close to crossing a line
The line Rodriguez walks with “Machete” has anything to do with the film’s use of satire. In 2007, “Grindhouse” was meant to be a send-up of 1970s midnight film genres, just as “Machete” is. It is about a Mexican federale (Danny Trejo) that wants to get revenge on some people. Agents of drug lord Torrez kill Machete’s family. Torrez is played by Steven Seagal like a form of parody to be himself. Machete kills numerous incorporated authorities, politicians including Robert De Niro and even a drug mile network that is exactly like the ones made in U.S. Mexico today. Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan, Michelle Rodriguez, Don Johnson and Jessica Alba all come along for the ride. But as the Denver Post asserts, “Machete” does not always walk on the razor-sharp edge of biting satire. Some of the jokes seem to really just be “too cool for school”. Rodriguez may need to get on top of his game. Some sequels are coming.
Just wrong to have immigration satire, says Screenrant
Screenrant thinks that the scene in “Machete” with an illegal border crossing is too much. A pregnant woman with her husband are trying to cross. This is now when Don Johnson and Robert De Niro determine it is time to stop them as uniformed vigilantes. De Niro’s role here was to be the United States of America senator to shoot both the pregnant woman and man after saying, “Welcome to America” to them. Many didn’t like the effective satire that ended so bloody. Rodriguez was just having some fun.
Fun with blood
”Machete” is more about the blood involved than anything else really. Focus too much on the connecting segments and you’ll be bored, says Screenrant. Entertainment Weekly says that it is just schlock without the blood and entrails that make the film work.
Further reading
Denver Post
denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_15966734
Entertainment Weekly
ew.com/ew/article/,,20417721,00.html
Screenrant
screenrant.com/machete-movie-reviews-vic-76754/
