Guilty pleasures for some can range from a hidden candy bar at work, listening to the Backstreet Boys or using a Snuggie. For me it usually involves cheap beer and a good 'B' movie. From old sci-fi movies to shoot 'em up gore flicks both hold a special place in my heart. Usually, I am an avid film and beer snob watching anything Herzog makes, or is hinted to be apart of, and drinking limited release rare brews from the smallest of breweries. Sometimes it's just good to zone out and have some fun. This is was definitely the case this past week when I watched the action-packed, shoot 'em up film Machete and drank an ice cold Tecate straight out of the can.
Directed by Robert Rodriquez and Ethan Maniquis, Machete is an epic homage to B action movies from the '70s and early '80s. This film stars as its hero none other than the sixty-six year old, blade slinging, tequila drinking Danny Trejo. He is known for his early films such as Desperado, Heat, From Dusk til Dawn and, of course, Spy Kids. Trejo has had an amazing career throughout the years and has been typically cast as some mysterious gun for hire. This being one of the only movies where he plays the main character was why I most wanted to watch the film.
This article appears in Oct 7-13, 2010.