The Mexican (2001)

A man tries to transport an ancient gun called The Mexican, believed to carry a curse, back across the border, while his girlfriend pressures him to give up his criminal ways.

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Writer:

J.H. Wyman

Stars:

Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, James Gandolfini

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brad Pitt	...	Jerry Welbach
Julia Roberts	...	Samantha Barzel
James Gandolfini	...	Winston Baldry
J.K. Simmons	...	Ted Slocum
Bob Balaban	...	Bernie Nayman
Sherman Augustus	...	Well Dressed Black Man
Michael Cerveris	...	Frank
Gene Hackman	...	Arnold Margolese
Richard Coca	...	Car Thief #1
David Krumholtz	...	Beck
Castulo Guerra	...	Joe the Pawnshop Owner
Mayra Serbulo	...	Emanuelle (as Maira Serbulo)
Salvador Sánchez	...	Gunsmith
Alan Ciangherotti	...	Gunsmith's Assistant (as Alan Cianguerotti)
Melisa Romero	...	Gunsmith's Daughter

Storyline

Jerry Welbach is given two ultimatums. His mob boss wants him to travel to Mexico to get a priceless antique pistol called "The Mexican" or he will suffer the consequences. The other ultimatum comes from his girlfriend Samantha, who wants him to end his association with the mob. Jerry figures that being alive, although in trouble with his girlfriend is the better alternative so he heads south of the border. Finding the pistol is easy but getting it home is a whole other matter. The pistol supposedly carries a curse - a curse Jerry is given every reason to believe, especially when Samantha is held hostage by the gay hit man Leroy to ensure the safe return of the pistol.

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Plot Keywords:

pistol | curse | hostage | mexico | vomiting | 

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Taglines:

love with the safety off

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Dreamworks SKG

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

2 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

La mexicana

Filming Locations:

Belz Factory Outlet Mall - 7400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$57,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,108,829, 4 March 2001, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$66,808,615, 27 May 2001

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$81,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks, Newmarket Capital Group, Lawrence Bender Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Gandolfini (Winston Baldry) and Gene Hackman (Arnold Margolese) previously worked together on Get Shorty (1995) as Bear & Harry Zimm respectively.

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Goofs

After saving Samantha's life, Winston puts the latex gloves he used into the trash, enabling police to lift his fingerprints off them. Winston does take his gloves off, however he does not place them into the trash can. Winston only takes them off in front of the trash can.

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Quotes

Winston Baldry: Do you want me to rape you?
Samantha: Are you gay?
Winston Baldry: Do you want me to rape you?
Samantha: You are gay.

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Crazy Credits

At the very end of the credits, Samantha whispers "I love you, Jerry".

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Connections

Referenced in Yes Man (2008)

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Soundtracks

Attention Shoppers

User Reviews

Analizar Este!

Helen of Troy was said to have 'the face that launched a thousand ships', causing the ancient Trojan War. Well, shove-off, Helen, we've got Julia Roberts, who launches a thousand heart throbs every time she grins, sobs, laughs or whatever she does on screen.

Julia Roberts (Samantha Barzel) plays the 'I-want-my-relationship-to-work', desperately seeking solace girlfriend, with her can't-live-with-can't-live-without half-witted hard-luck can't-do-anything-right-boyfriend Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt), and finds comfort and understanding with the help of a relation-trouble-gay-hit-man, Winston Baldry (James Gandolfini), who is, in fact, supposed to kill her.

Sounds confusing?

Well then sit down and enjoy the 'ride', brilliantly directed by Gore Verbinski, with this sometimes clumsy, yet intricate romance-comedy. It has several 'intersecting' subplots, including a wonderfully comic-tragic legend of a cursed antique pistol, a really mean dog, vicious gangsters and of course Mexico.

You won't get lost, though. The hilarious slapstick situations and unexpected twists and turns flipping back and forth between Mexico and Las Vegas, are all well sewn together by the much sought after relic, and an icing on the cake cameo plus performance by Gene Hackman , keeps your attention, almost waiting, for the next shoe to drop.

Although somewhat long, no time is wasted, and in spite of the seemingly hopeless situations, you'll 'never' find yourself saying, enough is enough!