Machete don’t text.  And it appears he don’t get lucrative tax incentives promised by the state of Texas to film here. Politics is at play.

The Texas Film Commission announced today it would be revoking the incentives given to the production of Machete, which could have been valued at as much as $1.75 million according to the Austin-American Statesman.

And why?

According to the letter from the Commission released by Governor Rick Perry, according to the statute that established Texas’ incentives for film production, they can be revoked “because of inappropriate content or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion.”

I live in Texas. I saw Machete and reviewed it.

And in no way does Machete portray Texas in a negative fashion.  In fact, it makes it look kind of bad-ass. As I stated in my review, the film really showcases Austin and what a great city it is.

As for the offensive part of it, I’m sure you could argue that there are portions people may find offensive. But the offense here seems to be more political rather than content-based.  I didn’t hear conservative critics harrumphing about the abundance of boobies, using intestines to rappel out a hospital window, cutting numerous limbs off, or the general pervasive sex and violence of the film.

But because there was a political undercurrent- one which discussed issues surrounding illegal immigration, made a mockery of bigoted politicians and vigalantes, and proudly declared (from the top of a taco truck) “We didn’t cross the border- the border crossed us!!”  I can see how that would be threatening to the small minds which inhabit many areas of our state government.  Alex Jones went so far as to say this film was going to cause a race war. (Boy was he wrong!)

But this is ridiculous.

You give film incentives to shoot locally because you want to support a local film industry, create local jobs, and compete with other states’ incentives. Aside from the most egregious violations, should you care about content that much?  No. If you do, that’s something we like to call “Censorship.” And if Texas wants to dictate content or rating, I can think of several films to take incentives from before Machete.  First?  Predators, also a Rodriguez produced picture.  And why take away their incentives? Because compared to Machete, it kinda sucked.

Watch this trailer:

They promised the incentives.  They knew what the content was going to be. The trailer even gives a proposed rating of X.To pull them now is to bow to bigoted political pressure.  Thought police anyone?

Robert Rodriguez is off finishing up Spy Kids 4 and so was unavailable for comment.  But I hope he goes on the warpath here.

As for the Texas Film Commission, I think they just f#$%ed with the wrong Mexican.

To the Texas Film Commission’s credit, they often do fine work.  You can see their subsidies at work next in The Coen Brothers’ True Grit, which filmed primarily in the Austin and Granger, just northeast of Austin.  As a taxpayer in Texas, I can proudly say to all of you: You’re welcome.