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

Jean Reno was originally considered for the part of Leroy.

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Goofs

When Jerry confronts the men who stole his rental car, one of the men is wearing Jerry's purple sunglasses. Jerry gets irritated and takes them from him. However, before Jerry takes them back, there is a brief shot showing Jerry already wearing them.

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Quotes

Samantha: I'm sensing you have trust issues.

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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 Resident Evil (2002)

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Soundtracks

La pistola y el corazón
Written by David Hidalgo and Louie Perez (as Louis Perez)
Performed by Los Lobos
Courtesy of Slash Records / London-Sire Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Very entertaining!

Pitt and Roberts were a good match, and James Gandolfini really was the best part of this movie. A young man (Pitt) has to go to Mexico and retrieve an antique pistol for a mobster, much to the chagrin of his girlfriend (Roberts). Pitt encounters a lot of snags and hang ups trying to complete the task, and unknowingly, his girlfriend is being held as insurance until he finishes the job. Worth seeing! B+