Sept. 3 For Robert Rodriguez’ ‘Machete’

COMMENTS (20)

• I don’t like it when big time actors attach themselves to hip movies. Although I do look forward to this film.

  Comment by Jerry — Friday April 16, 2010 @ 4:33pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Big time actors? Who? DeNiro? He’s a little past his prime…Trejo is awesome, but hardly was ever big time.

    But the rest of them? More like “where are they now” segment. And please, don’t give me that Michelle was in AVATAR. That’s like saying Bruce Willis is back Bruce Willis is back because of his role in THE EXPENDABLES.

    Comment by Really? — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 12:10am PDT  Reply to this post

    • This is why no one respects agents or executives or assistants, or whatever it is you are that’s not an above the line talent. I don’t give a shit about Michelle Rodriguez one way or another, but Where are You Now? Not every gets to enjoy 40 years of Woody Allen fame. Michelle Rodriguez has been in Avatar and Lost, the most widely watched movie in the history of cinema, and one of the most widely watched television shows currently airing. Is it opposite day, or are you just an idiot?

      Comment by this — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 10:11am PDT  Reply to this post

      • Agreed. Like her or not, between Fast & Furious, Avatar, and Lost….Michelle Rodriguez is someone people generally want to see. She seems to be very polarizing as both a person and actress, but at the end of the day her box office (past and present) and tv ratings numbers speak for themselves.

        The one person who can hurt this film is Lohan. Since this is the ONLY good thing in her life and career right now, she will undoubtedly screw it up by trying to capitalize on it by trying to steal all of the attention away from the film. Just wait, right around early August, she will pull yet another negative publicity stunt in an effort to make sure everyone is talking about her at the time of release. And thus the public will associate the name “Machete” with the name “Lindsay Lohan” and therefore the film will take a massive hit at the box office. The very best thing the producers of this movie can do is put her as far back in the crowd as possible. She’s part of the film yes, and I’m actually glad they gave her this chance, but they should NOT have her involved in any of the film’s promotion or she will do everything in her power to draw as much attention, negative mind you, to herself as possible, and thus hurt the film.

        It’s not fair to Robert Rodriguez nor the veterans (Trejo & DeNiro) nor the marketable actors ( Michelle Rodriguez ) nor any of the hard working cast and crew to suffer due to the never ending antics of a spoiled little girl. And trust me, they will if they’re not careful. Heck, even inviting her to the film’s premiere will be risky because she will undoubtedly show up looking like a mess with her scantily clad teenage sister and thus garner a ton of embarrassing headlines. In the case of someone like Lohan, the “any publicity is good publicity” line doesn’t apply. She can single handedly kill a film. Not because she’s untalented, because she is actually quite talented, but because she simply can’t grow up and deal with her problems and she doesn’t care one bit who she takes down with her.

        Machete will no doubt be a fun flick. And it stands half a chance at seeing a decent box office as long as Lindsay Lohan behaves herself for the next 5 months, isn’t involved in any of the promotional tours, and shows up to the premiere sober and dressed respectably. But as she’s proven in the past, that’s apparently a tall order for her. I guess we’ll see.

        Comment by Me0w — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 1:08pm PDT  Reply to this post

        • Nobody watched Avatar for Michelle Rodriguez, just like nobody watched Lost for Michelle Rodriguez, and just like nobody watched Fast and Furious for Michelle Rodriguez. The fact that she was cast in successful films doesn’t dictate that she’s a bankable or successful actress in any way. You might as well say that because Clint Howard has played a role in nearly every Ron Howard film that Clint Howard has an awesome track record. Michelle Rodriguez is annoying and I consider myself a huge fan of both Lost and Avatar. She simply fills the casting void for tough latin american woman and Hollywood is so devoid of the ability to take a chance on someone new that Rodriguez continues to find work in high profile projects.

          Comment by Dan — Sunday April 18, 2010 @ 12:18am PDT  

        • About 90 % of your comment is about Lindsay.
          Think about that.

          Comment by jmm — Saturday May 15, 2010 @ 12:25pm PDT  

      • The days of so-called “talent agents” will soon come to an end.

        Comment by Jeff — Sunday April 18, 2010 @ 6:07pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Seems like the perfect date to release a movie like this. I’m hoping it is as good as the fake trailer that inspired it. It would be funny if it out grosses all the titles Weinstein has released so far since they could have had this and turned it down.

  Comment by Eddie — Friday April 16, 2010 @ 6:21pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • They still could have fucked up the release.

    Comment by ILDC — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 9:47am PDT  Reply to this post

• If they’re lucky, it will do as well as Planet Terror and Death Proof. What a waste of time and money.

  Comment by David — Friday April 16, 2010 @ 7:20pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • You’re right… Fox should really be cracking ass at getting Alvin 3D out instead, or butchering another franchise. Everyone should be grateful we’ve got someone like Rodriguez to provide some marketplace diversity that isn’t cookie cutter.

    Comment by Anthony — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 8:03am PDT  Reply to this post

• Nice,good date.

  Comment by Machete — Friday April 16, 2010 @ 7:21pm PDT  Reply to this post

• This was made for much, much less than either of the Grindhouse movies – no way they can lose with a cast like that and a wide release from Fox. I just hope Rodriguez doesn’t do any of that stuff where he distorts the images or otherwise “Grindhouses” it. They already proved there’s no audience for an homage to those films…

  Comment by iamnewyork02 — Friday April 16, 2010 @ 9:49pm PDT  Reply to this post

• And to think this was originally gonna be DTV. Probably gonna be RR’s Kick-Ass, though, unless they manage to do a better marketing campaign.

  iam: If FOX overpaid for it, it can lose money.

  Comment by D.Z. — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 1:36am PDT  Reply to this post

• I want the girls from Death Proof back.

  Comment by peggy — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 3:33am PDT  Reply to this post

• The Cormanesque spoof trailer was a couple of minutes of sheer delight but I wasn’t left with the feeling that I now wanted to see an entire movie in the same vein.

  Comment by Steve — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 8:30am PDT  Reply to this post

• Machete’s budget was incredibly small. It shot over the course of maybe a month in incentive-rich Austin, all of the cast worked for 1-2 weeks for next to nothing, and RR edited, scored, etc everything himself at his own studio. I wouldn’t be surprised if the total budget was around $15 million or less. Not sure how much Fox bought it for, but let’s guess it’s around $20 million. Then let’s say they do around $20 million in marketing. With those amounts, all they need is a “Kick-Ass”-esque opening of around $20 million U.S. and they’re on their way to about $100 million total worldwide by the end of its theatrical run, which sets them up to be looking at anywhere from $20-$40 million in profits, depending on the exact cost of P&A, theater distribution, participation deals, etc.

  So if Machete makes at least $20 million opening weekend, everyone will be happy and it’ll be seen as a success. Anything more is just icing. And with this cast, a $20 million opening doesn’t sound too difficult, even if it is a gritty, niche, R-rated film.

  Comment by LL — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 3:55pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Gonna save my $12 and wait for Predator.

  Comment by Mr. B — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 6:17pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Finally, a feel good movie.

  Comment by ? — Saturday April 17, 2010 @ 9:07pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Michelle’s not marketable, she’s just a fill-in for the tough butch Latina role (just like her personal life). And Kick Ass isn’t doing as well as they thought either, it is not at 20 mil, see Nikki’s update.

  Comment by Captain Obvious — Sunday April 18, 2010 @ 11:12am PDT  Reply to this post