This Review Reveals Minor Details About the Plot.
Road Trip
Plot Overview
Debilitated rodeo rider Mike Milo (Clint
Eastwood) landed further on the ropes after his wife and child were
killed in an auto wreck. He'd turned to the bottle but horse rancher
Howard Polk (Dwight Yoakam) took him on to help him breed his horses.
Then he got too old and was put out to pasture. Now Howard wants Mike
to return the favor he's owed by going down to Mexico to bring back
his thirteen-year-old son from his mother's custody … for an
enviable life on a horse in Texas.
The mother Leta (Fernanda Urrejola) lacks any maternal instinct and is glad to get rid of Rafael “Rafo” (Eduardo Minett) who has proven to be a rebellious handful. He resented all the “uncles” his mother took up with and craves a good male influence. He likes his father's envoy and hopes to get on well with his dad. He brings with him his pet rooster.
Rafo: His name is Macho, like me. Very strong rooster.
Mike: Whatever.
Rafo: What's wrong with that?
Mike: Nothing. Guy wants to name his cock Macho, it's OK by me.
Macho in English as applied to men means virile (“Macho means strong.”) It comes from the Spanish macho meaning male (animal.) Naming a rooster Macho would be like naming a female dog Bitch. Whatever.
Their road trip takes a detour and they
end up in a quaint, little, out-of-the-way village where they stop
at a cantina
for refreshments. The owner is prayerful widow Marta (Natalia Traven)
who takes a decided interest in this man who's dropped not entirely
unexpectedly into her sphere of influence. The interest is reciprocated
and it looks like Mike might repurpose his trip.
Ideology
Mike says about the titular theme:This macho thing is overrated. Just people trying to show that they've got grit. That's about all they end up with. It's like anything else in life: you think you got all the answers, then you realize, as you get older, you don't have any of them.As illustrated in this movie, it's a reflection of:
Psalm 127 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127 tells of a man who's got two jobs; he's a carpenter by day and works as a watchman at night. It's interfering with his sleep and his family life. The psalmist questions what he's doing, that without God's blessing he's not getting anywhere, and his priorities should include his family more, and having children to pass on his legacy to.
Mike was like to be killed on the rodeo circuit and was then worked for all he was worth on the ranch. Rodeo is rough and so is ranching. That was just his day job. Now he's got this transportation gig that resembles human trafficking the way the self-interested parties play him. More roughness.
Suddenly God or fate has brought him opportunity to take up with a willing widow complete with her late sister's brood whom she's raising. This movie has just taken on a whole different complexion.
Production Values
“” was directed by
Clint Eastwood. Its screenplay was written by Nick Schenk, as adapted
(finally) from the 1975 novel, Cry
Macho by the late N. Richard Nash. It stars Clint
Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam, and Natalia Traven. Eastwood plays well a
frail, old man whom we hope will last for the duration. The confused
boy was played sympathetically by Eduardo Minett whom we hope finds
a home. Natalia Traven did great as the señorita who put feet on her
prayers. Special mention goes to Amber Lynn Ashley, Brytnee Ratledge, and
Alexandra Ruddy who were perfect as three hippie chicks at the border
subtly signalling a change of gears. Hippies wear gay apparel and Mike will
exchange his Gringo duds for festive Mexican gear. Hippies are especially
partial to the exotic, and Mike will find a foreign love.
MPAA rated it PG–13 for language and thematic elements. It was filmed in Belen, New Mexico, USA. Ben Davis's shooting of the New Mexico high country was superb. Runtime is 1½ hours.
Review Conclusion w/a Christian's Recommendation
This movie played out well, but on its own terms. It was more drama than action. Eastwood was not the rough-hewn hero of days past but an expendable hand whom the crafty rancher exploited. Stunt doubles are de rigueur in any western, so no surprise there. Give it a break on the necessary editing; it's supposed to have an element of the miraculous in it. This would make a good family picture, one that grandpa can appreciate.
Movie Ratings
Action factor: Decent action scenes. Suitability for Children: Suitable for children 13+ years with guidance. Special effects: Average special effects. Video Occasion: Good for Groups. Suspense: Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Overall movie rating: Four stars out of five.
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