2) Danny ‘Effin Trejo (Take Your Pick Of Rodriguez Films)
Of course, there’s a more famous pairing than Rodriguez and Salma Hayek, and that’s Rodriguez and his second cousin, Danny Trejo. Yes, that gruff Mexican with an even worse attitude is related to Robert Rodriguez, which makes sense when looking at how many times these two have collaborated. Trejo is the ultimate badass, still kicking ass so late in his days, but there isn’t a single Rodriguez role Trejo played that isn’t classic. Also, a fun note – whenever Rodriguez writes a part for Trejo, it usually involves knives. Machete, Navajas (Desperado), Razor Charlie (From Dusk Till Dawn), Uncle Machete (Spy Kids: All The Time In The World In 4D) – just a fun fact!
The thing is, Rodriguez gives Trejo freedoms not many others do. While he’s typically typecast as “Thug #2,” “Drug Dealer #1,” or himself (Muppets Most Wanted), Rodriguez was crazy enough to give the man his own action franchise – AT THE AGE OF 66. What became of it? A slew of quotable lines (“Machete don’t text.”), a bunch of dead border patrollers, grappling-hook-helicopter kills, intestines being used as rope, and a list of cast members far too long for this simple segment. I LOVED Machete, and I even thought Machete Kills was an ample follow up (dumb, stupid fun), but that’s only because Rodriguez believed enough in Trejo.
Rodriguez knows camp, goes for broke and breaks the dial off intensity wise – Machete is a testament to that. But without Trejo, I don’t see the same success.
