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 & 2 nominations.

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:

bulletproof vest | dead body in a car trunk | dreamworks | pistol | curse | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

At various points in production, stars like Ben Stiller and Meg Ryan and directors like Kevin Reynolds and David Fincher were all attached.

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Goofs

When Leroy and Samantha leave the mall they drive on and on through the desert and end up in downtown Las Vegas at the Plaza Hotel. Maybe they just wanted to do a lot of driving, but in actuality the mall is on Las Vegas Blvd about 15 minutes driving on the strip to get up to the Plaza Hotel.

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Quotes

Leroy: I have to ask you a question... and it's an important one so, I want you to think about the answer before you give it to me. Okay?
Samantha: Okay
Leroy: When two people love each other - Really... Love each other - but they just can't get it together, when do you get to that point where enough is enough?
Samantha: [mouth agape, stunned look, realizing he's talking about her] Tha?... oh, well... that's... you know... um... you know it's Over when... okay, I have, like, these psychosomatic, insomniatic manifestations of... uh,...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

In the middle of the credits, when the first or second song ends, you hear the guy from the car rentals shout "RAOUL !!"

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Connections

Spoofs Se7en (1995)

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Soundtracks

Groove 2000
Courtesy of Marc Ferrari/Mastersource

User Reviews

I had a very good time watching this movie

Personally I had a very good time watching this movie, but it seems like I'm one of the few. I don't know why, but the voters on this website always seem to hate comedies if they aren't from the hand of some cult-director. Does a movie always have to be a great drama or an exciting thriller? Not if you ask me, but I'm only one of many over here of course.

It's true, the movie is a little chaotic from time to time. It isn't an overproduced Hollywood movie that takes itself too serious and that's exactly where its charm is in it for me. I loved to see Brad Pitt as the clumsy criminal who always is able to do something wrong. The same for Julia Roberts as his hysterical girlfriend and James Gandolfini as the gay hit man who has kidnapped her.

I know, it's not done to say that you liked to see Julia Roberts play a certain role and Brad Pitt can never be good as a comical actor... Well, perhaps it is time for some people to broaden their minds. Don't believe what everybody says, watch it for yourself and form your own opinion. I liked it and I give it an 8/10.

Details

Country:

USA Mexico

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

2 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Mexican

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

Gross USA:

$66,845,033

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$147,845,033

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dreamworks Pictures, Newmarket Capital Group, Lawrence Bender Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1