Posted: 03/07/2001

The Mexican

(2001)

by Wayne Case

A good use of two top-notch actors, The Mexican is a sure winner.

When I first heard that Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt had signed to co-star, I was enthusiastic. I enjoyed seeing the published location photos; I liked the one sheet when I first saw it; I thought the trailer was promising. Then some negative buzz started to develop and advance reviews were mixed. Finally, on its opening day, 3/2/2001, I saw the film. While it could/should have been better, I was entertained and generally pleased. I suspect that everyone’s opinion of the film will be determined by just how much they like the two stars and the third lead, James Gandolfini. Count me in as a fan of all three.

The Mexican started as an $8 to $10 million effort, but soon became a $40 million star vehicle when Julia and Brad signed on. Reportedly, each took about half their normal salary in exchange for profit participation. While offbeat projects like this are not unusual for Pitt, Roberts has generally stuck to big budgeted, mainstream fare. It’s nice to see her broaden her horizons and this gamble has paid off.

As the film opens, it’s five years earlier in Los Angeles County. We see a shot of the Valley and hear a car crash off camera. Due to his careless driving, Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt) has crashed into the car driven by a mobster wanted by the authorities. Mobster Arnold Margolese gets sent to the pen for five years and demands that Jerry work for him during the time of this incarceration since the wreck resulted in his arrest. Cutting now to the present, five years later, we meet Jerry’s mate, Samantha (Julia Roberts). She has gone along with Jerry’s reluctant services for the mobster, but now that the agreed-upon five-year term is over, she demands that they move on. Fearing for his life, Jerry agrees to do one last chore for Margolese. That task is to go to a remote Mexican village and retrieve a coveted and valuable vintage gun that is known as “the Mexican.”

Samantha has had enough of Jerry’s flakiness and throws him out. He leaves for Mexico, anyway, and she takes off driving to Las Vegas. Competing mobs want the gun also, and figure Jerry will turn the gun over to them if they have Samantha as a bargaining chip. Enter hitman/thug Leroy (James Gandolfini); he kidnaps her but they soon bond. From here on out there are far too many plot twists to even try to summarize. All three of the principals do end up in that small Mexican village. I found the resolution quite satisfactory even though it is a bit too long in arriving and there is some unnecessary confusion getting there.

Currently, Julia Roberts is the number one female boxoffice draw in the world. She is both likeable and lovely. The first time I noticed her was in Mystic Pizza (1988). I strongly recommend it along with my other personal favorites from her: Steel Magnolias (1989), Pretty Woman (1990), The Pelican Brief (1993), Something To Talk About (1995), My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), and Erin Brockovich (2000). So far, she has three Oscar nominations for acting and is the favorite to go home with Oscar himself on 3/25/2001.

With one acting Oscar nomination so far, Brad Pitt is one of the top leading men working today. In my opinion, only the two Toms (Cruise and Hanks) can compete with him for top honors in their general age group. I have mixed feelings about some of his career choices, but give him credit for avoiding getting into a rut. I could do without him deliberately making himself look unattractive; as he ages, there’ll be plenty of time for that! My favorites from him: Thelma And Louise (1991), A River Runs Through It (1992), Interview With The Vampire (1994), and Se7en (1995). In The Mexican, Brad and Julia don’t spend enough time on the screen together, but they are loopy, goofy, likeable, and attractive. Both will be seen in the upcoming remake of Oceans 11, but that film is an ensemble piece, and I’d love to see them co-star in a big budgeted romantic comedy soon, also.

Third-billed James Gandolfini is wonderful as the hitman named Leroy. He is worthy of a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his work here. He received an Emmy for his acting in HBO’s current hit series, The Sopranos, and has several upcoming major feature films filming or planned.

This is the second theatrical film from director Gore Verbinski. I am not a fan of his first, Mouse Hunt (1997), but it was a big hit. He must be great to work with since he re-teams next with Julia Roberts for Project 3 and then with James Gandolfini for Catch Me If You Can. All technical aspects of The Mexican are excellent and I particularly liked the silent film styled flashbacks showing the history of the coveted gun.

Opening weekend business was an excellent $20 million, but exit polls were below average. The MPAA rating is R; the running time is 123 minutes; my rating is 7 ½ out of a possible 10. If your expectations are reasonable and/or if you really like Julia Roberts and/or Brad Pitt, I recommend that you see it. Keep in mind, that it does take its time getting where it’s going and that there is some confusion along the way. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the trip!

Wayne Case works in the film industry in Hollywood.

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