Is Robert Rodriguez’s ultra-violent Machete a more insightful, culturally significant movie than most critics would credit? James certainly thinks so, and here are his reasons why…
When Robert Rodriguez was casting his casting nets for Machete, he approached Chris Cooper with the role of Senator John McLaughlin.
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.
The odd 'fun Bobby' moment (I'm thinking his Meet The Parents stuff and the whole stoner smoking a bong with Bridget Fonda in Jackie Brown affair) is refreshing if you aren't in the mood for Taxi Driver or Raging Bull.
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...
When Robert Rodriguez was casting his casting nets for Machete, he approached Chris Cooper with the role of Senator John McLaughlin.
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.
The odd 'fun Bobby' moment (I'm thinking his Meet The Parents stuff and the whole stoner smoking a bong with Bridget Fonda in Jackie Brown affair) is refreshing if you aren't in the mood for Taxi Driver or Raging Bull.
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...
- 12/9/2010
- Den of Geek
It’s time to look at the Machete reviews, and memorable quotes that may go into the film nerd’s vocab book.
Machete is of course based on one of the fake trailers that accompanied Grindhouse. But did you know that this is the first time a Steven Seagal movie has been released in theatres for 9 years? Or that Machete features both Cheech Marin and Don Johnson so constitutes something of a Nash Bridges reunion? It’s also the fourth time 66 year old Danny Trejo has played Machete, since the character was in all the Spy Kids movies. Actor Chris Cooper reportedly turned down a role in the Mexploitation movie saying “it’s the most absurd business I’ve ever read”.
Here’s what the critics are saying -
Washington Post –
“A surprisingly amusing sendup of action-movies… De Niro tears into the part of Texas Sen. John McLaughlin with all...
Machete is of course based on one of the fake trailers that accompanied Grindhouse. But did you know that this is the first time a Steven Seagal movie has been released in theatres for 9 years? Or that Machete features both Cheech Marin and Don Johnson so constitutes something of a Nash Bridges reunion? It’s also the fourth time 66 year old Danny Trejo has played Machete, since the character was in all the Spy Kids movies. Actor Chris Cooper reportedly turned down a role in the Mexploitation movie saying “it’s the most absurd business I’ve ever read”.
Here’s what the critics are saying -
Washington Post –
“A surprisingly amusing sendup of action-movies… De Niro tears into the part of Texas Sen. John McLaughlin with all...
- 9/14/2010
- by Sheridan Passell
- Movie-moron.com
If you’ve been anxiously waiting since 2007’s Grindhouse to hand over some of your hard-earned pesos and witness the further exploits of ex-Federale agent Machete (Danny Trejo), then it hardly matters how any critic feels about the product.
In case you are still reading, fans of the character will be relieved to find exactly what they were hoping for, in some cases quite literally (with almost every shot from the fake Grindhouse trailer recreated). Machete is a B-movie thrill, deliriously gory and ridiculously over-the-top with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
“Machete doesn’t text” our über-grizzled title character states early on. What the hulking, old-school action hero does emphatically do is brutally execute just about every two-faced crook he comes in contact with. Of course, Machete is forced into his campaign of vengeance after being set up by the sneering, gravel-voiced businessman Booth (Jeff Fahey). Other bad guys in the mix include racist,...
In case you are still reading, fans of the character will be relieved to find exactly what they were hoping for, in some cases quite literally (with almost every shot from the fake Grindhouse trailer recreated). Machete is a B-movie thrill, deliriously gory and ridiculously over-the-top with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
“Machete doesn’t text” our über-grizzled title character states early on. What the hulking, old-school action hero does emphatically do is brutally execute just about every two-faced crook he comes in contact with. Of course, Machete is forced into his campaign of vengeance after being set up by the sneering, gravel-voiced businessman Booth (Jeff Fahey). Other bad guys in the mix include racist,...
- 9/5/2010
- by Glenn Kay
- newsinfilm.com
Although the monsoons don’t seem to be anywhere near their end this year, two noted exponents of Indian classical music will come together tonight to bid farewell to the season in a concert titled Malhar Rang. Acclaimed mandolin player, U Srinivas, from the Carnatic music tradition, who has played with the likes of John McLaughlin in Remember Shakti, and Hindustani classical maestro, vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan, who has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to music, will perform at the concert tonight, albeit separately. Shashi Vyas, director of Pancham Nishad, which is presenting the event, explains, “Indian classical music has ...
- 9/1/2010
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
Fox Searchlight announced on Friday that Black Swan, starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel and Mila Kunis, will open in select theatres on December 1st and expand from there. It was previously announced that the film would open the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
Excerpts from the earlier press release:
Black Swan Directed By Darren Aronofsky
Starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel And Mila Kunis
Opening Film Of The 67Th Venice International Film Festival
.Black Swan, the highly anticipated new feature film by American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Golden Lion recipient in 2008 at the 65th Venice Film Festival for The Wrestler), will be the opening film . in competition – of the 67th Venice International Film Festival. A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the...
Excerpts from the earlier press release:
Black Swan Directed By Darren Aronofsky
Starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel And Mila Kunis
Opening Film Of The 67Th Venice International Film Festival
.Black Swan, the highly anticipated new feature film by American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Golden Lion recipient in 2008 at the 65th Venice Film Festival for The Wrestler), will be the opening film . in competition – of the 67th Venice International Film Festival. A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the...
- 7/30/2010
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Darren Aronofsky's upcoming thriller "Black Swan" has been selected to open the 67th Venice International Film Festival, which kicks off Sept. 1, 2010 and runs through September 11.
Natalie Portman plays an experienced ballerina who's having a hard time dealing with a rival dancer (Mila Kunis). As the story develops, Portman's character is not sure whether what she experiences is real.
Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder co-star in the film written by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin. Aronofsky won the Golden Lion in Venice in 2008 for "The Wrestler."...
Natalie Portman plays an experienced ballerina who's having a hard time dealing with a rival dancer (Mila Kunis). As the story develops, Portman's character is not sure whether what she experiences is real.
Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder co-star in the film written by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin. Aronofsky won the Golden Lion in Venice in 2008 for "The Wrestler."...
- 7/23/2010
- by Franck Tabouring
- screeninglog.com
Darren Aronofsky does a 180 degree switch in the world of physical competition. Going from Pro Wrestling to Ballet. And it looks like the plot of the film is going to feature intrigue over intimacy. That photo is an unrecognizable Natalie Portman in make-up, trumping those pesky Star Wars Prequels for hiding the actress. I'm hoping that the film is not trying to one-up Matthew Barney. The stills are a lot less hair and sweat than The Wrestler, but will Black Swan be more compelling than Robert Altman's The Company? The fact that Vincent Cassel is in there is a mighty fine clue.
Fox Searchlight Press Release is below:
"Black Swan, the highly anticipated new feature film by American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Golden Lion recipient in 2008 at the 65th Venice Film Festival for The Wrestler), will be the opening film - in competition - of the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
Fox Searchlight Press Release is below:
"Black Swan, the highly anticipated new feature film by American filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Golden Lion recipient in 2008 at the 65th Venice Film Festival for The Wrestler), will be the opening film - in competition - of the 67th Venice International Film Festival.
- 7/22/2010
- Screen Anarchy
The Lido will have it's Black Swan. Darren Aronofsky who brought The Wrestler to the festival a couple of years earlier will go in without having to worry about bidding wars and the such as it is Fox Searchlight that owns the title and will be opening (and not as I had predicted Focus Features The American) the oldest film festival that matters. Though Searchlight doesn't have the picture pegged with a release date, my thinking is they'll insert the title into their post Conviction line-up: juggling the title with Boyle's 127 Hours for either a November or December release. A Toronto Int. Film Festival Gala screening should be in the cards. Written by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin, set in New York City, this centers on a veteran ballerina (Portman) who finds herself locked in a competitive situation with a rival dancer (Mila Kunis), with the stakes and...
- 7/22/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
The film to open the 67th Venice International Film Festival has been announced as Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, a psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet.
Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis). The story plays out through the psyche of the young ballerina, whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect. Vincent Cassel and Winona Ryder also star and Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin wrote the screenplay.
Aronofsky has enjoyed previous success at the Venice Film Festival when he received the Golden Lion in 2008 for The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke.
The Festival runs from the 1st until the 11th of September. The official line-up of all the films...
Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis). The story plays out through the psyche of the young ballerina, whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect. Vincent Cassel and Winona Ryder also star and Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John McLaughlin wrote the screenplay.
Aronofsky has enjoyed previous success at the Venice Film Festival when he received the Golden Lion in 2008 for The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke.
The Festival runs from the 1st until the 11th of September. The official line-up of all the films...
- 7/22/2010
- Screenrush
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