As an individual who thoroughly enjoys watching films, there are certain filmmakers that appeal to this writer’s visual/contextual preferences. One of those filmmakers is Robert Rodriguez since first seeing the film From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). Robert Rodriguez has proven to be a director that can appeal to a wide variety of audiences but his depiction of personal relationships, violence, and storytelling are somehow his signature. Those elements are all very present in the screening this week of Machete Kills. For those who have not seen the original Machete (2010), there will be a screening later this semester in class but Machete Kills (2013) is the follow up to the first film. Machete Kills displays Latinx characters as impulsive, flashy, and ultimately at the mercy of Anglo American social structures. This is a recurring theme in the films we have seen so far and here we can see how the similarities continue.
In the opening scene, we see American soldiers are getting ready to make a sale of military grade weapons to the Mexican cartel when they are foiled by Machete and his Federal Agent love interest/partner. The members of the cartel who are depicted as more of the low level enforcers arrive in old pickup trucks and are dressed in jeans/t-shirts but the higher level figure, or “the boss” who has given the orders to the lower level gangsters, arrives in a purple lowrider while dressed in a boisterous blue dress shirt, tucked into his pants while showing off his large belt buckle. “Chicanos are dynamic social formations whose dynamism is a product of creativity, and agency” (Fregoso, p. 28). This creativity and limited agency can most easily be observed in the way individuals are dressed in the film. The fashion carries a lot of subcontext including the flashy way the cartel bosses dress, the way Vox, an American weapons manufacturer, is always shown in a suit, and the way Machete’s associate dresses when she “dresses to kill”. All of these different choices in the styling of these characters is reminiscent of how those in similar roles are depicted in such films as Scarface (1983) and Zoot Suit (1981).
Another theme that remains is the impulsive nature of the Latino male. In Machete Kills we see it in the characters of The Chameleon and Marcos Mendez. The Chameleon is a hired assassin who has the otherworldly power to shift his physical appearance at will. He ends up shedding this image 3 times in the movie because his impulsivity has led him to kill 3 individuals who inconvenienced him. The other character Marcos Mendez is portrayed as an individual with dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder) who, when he is “the madman” is so fixated on revenge that he programs a ticking time bomb onto his heart. Marcos’ other personality, “the revolutionary”, is seeing a better future for the people of Mexico but “the madman” personality takes over in extreme stress situations and cannot control his desire to end the life of anyone who does not view him as the penultimate authority figure in the cartel. “This negative positioning of Latino masculinity is shown as ‘inherently violent’ and ‘sexually and morally pathological’ in media since the 1960’s” (Fregoso, p. 29). Machete Kills definitely perpetuates these depictions of Latino machismo that has been in place for the last 50 years.
Although Machete is portrayed as having a huge following by vigilantes in Mexico, he aligns forces with the U.S. government to take down Marcos Mendez. In the process he becomes a U.S. citizen and is offered another assignment from the President of the U.S. This shows that the way to prosper in America is to play by the rules of the existing social structures. If Machete had declined the request of the president to detain Marcos Mendez he would not have been granted U.S. citizenship and would have to continue on as an outlaw. This is another way of reinforcing that there has to be some kind of concession to Anglo culture in order to prosper in the U.S. Even with all the perpetuation of Hollywood stereotypes of Latinx people, Machete Kills is a fun movie that uses humor and violence to veil political statements on the relationships between U.S. and Mexico.
References
Fregoso, Rosa Linda. Bronze Screen : Chicana and Chicano Film Culture, University of Minnesota Press, 1993. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csudh/detail.action?docID=310258.
Hi Natalie,
I like how you mentioned the director Robert Rodriguez as someone who has an ongoing theme in his films. As someone who has seen almost all of his films I agree his sentiments about Anglo culture seem to be recurring and always have a depiction of a character succumbing to anglo culture in someo way. It is unfortunate but like you I do find this movie entertaining.
Hi Natalie,
Your review was very interesting because you highlighted the different personalities of Marcos Mendez. I agree with you that some of the negative aspects are repeated in many films, but I believe that the personalities that Marcos displays were necessary to prove the point that respect is an attribute that reigns supreme in the mind of a Latino male. It leads me to believe that the director felt that it was imperative to prove that this is a demand that will drive a Latino man to the point of madness. Your review sparked an interest for me to watch the film.
Hello Lorie. I can’t believe it, but I am pretty sure that the only Robert Rodriguez film I have ever seen has been the original Spy Kids (2001) with my kids over eighteen years ago. I remember thinking, “Wow, the characters in this film have a Spanish surname!” It was an enjoyable family movie. If I recall correctly, the character Machete was also in this film, known as Uncle Machete, however, I am unsure if the Machete films are a spin-off of the Spy Kids franchise. From your blog, I see how the men in the film are depicted as being “inherently violent.” This depiction not only appears on film, but on television shows as well. I look forward to seeing Machete Kills. Your insightful blog as given me a ”heads-up” on what to expect in the original Machete movie film.
Great review. I have not seen any of the Machete films, so I viewed the film trailer. From what I observed in the trailer; this is a very action-packed film. I agree with you; the costume designer of this film dressed the men in a very flashy and dynamic tone. What I also noticed was that his love interest/partner was dressed in a very sexy, provocative, skimpy, tight leather outfit in comparison to what the men are wearing. I look forward to watching the movie in class as I like these types of action-packed films.
I had not personally watched Machete Kills (2013), so I had to do a little research on this film myself. In my research I have read and concur with what you said about his signature of films he plays the role of a villain. This film has a lot of corruption, within the Mexican American government and it stereotypes Machete as a criminal. Based on my judgement this films character is somewhat reverse from Hank from Zoot Suit (1981), when the Pachucos were being accused of murder and Hank refused to have a white Lawyer represent them. His pride did not allow themselves to collaborate with the police to clear their name. However, in Machete Kills he collaborated with the government to be granted his US citizenship.
I appreciate your deep knowledge of films and produces. Also you have good eyes to watch films. You understood what the producer wants to show to the audience in the film. I was impressed that “some kind of concession to Anglo culture in order to prosper in the U.S.” Probably when I see the same scene, I would not be able to notice that deep meanings.
I’m so glad that you had brilliant quick links through your blog because I just could not find the courage to watch the whole film.Your representation of the film did make me want to sneak a peek though.The blog was well written and I love how the picture makes the film look epic.