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The Mexican (2001)
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Genre: |
Crime/Romance/Comedy/Drama |
Director: |
Gore Verbinski
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Rating: |
R |
Running Time: |
123 Minutes |
Release Date: |
March 2, 2001 |
Official Website: |
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Movie Trailer: |
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Discuss and vote: |
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Cast: |
Brad Pitt
Julia Roberts
James Gandolfini
Bob Balabari
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Pickup Line: A Movie Every Juan, Jose, and Pedro Would Love!
Quickie: A whipped, clumsy messenger for a crime lord risks his already precarious relationship when he accepts his final mission: to bring back "The Mexican," a legendary pistol, from its native Mexico.
The Long Review:
"The Mexican" has it all: comedy, drama, action, romance...What can we say? It's a great movie. It tells the amusing story of Jerry (Brad Pitt), a sweet but somewhat clueless guy who ends up being a messenger/hitman for a famous crime lord named Margolese (Gene Hackman) when he "accidentally" sends the guy to prison. Whipped by his girlfriend, Samantha (Julia Roberts) and obligated to Margolese, Jerry risks both his life and love when he accepts his final mission to go to Mexico and bring back "The Mexican," a legendary pistol. What follows are Jerry's adventures and misadventures as he tries to both get "The Mexican" and get Samantha back (who takes off for Vegas without him, fed up with his "selfish" ways), and Samantha's enlightening experience as she is taken hostage by a guy named Leroy (James Gandolfini) for insurance purposes...you know, to make sure Jerry doesn't muck up his assignment, as he has been known to do in the past.
"The Mexican" grips you from the beginning and never lets go. First-class performances by Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and James Gandolfini, combined with clever dialogue and an engaging story, make it one of the better movies of the year. It focuses more on character development and the poignant relationships that the characters either have or form with one another than it does on useless pizzazz. We particularly liked the touching and unique relationship that develops between Samantha and her kidnapper. Believe it or not, these two are the main suppliers of the drama in the movie. And there's that Brad Pitt. Man, his character is funny! If we liked Brad Pitt before seeing him in this movie, we love him now! He plays his part so well that it's hard to imagine him being somebody other than Jerry. Not bad, Brad! We also loved the little details in the movie: a pun here, a funny little gesture there, a brilliantly comical scene that lasts mere seconds over here, an irresistible facial expression over there...you know, precious moments that you might miss if you don't pay close attention. Watching the movie, you wouldn't at all remember that you're watching actors. Roberts, Pitt, and Gandolfini play their parts so naturally, you would think you were watching actual people living their actual lives. Now that's good acting.
It is also interesting that Roberts and Pitt are together only in a handful of scenes. Samantha spends most of her time bonding with Leroy (and tugging at our heartstrings), and Jerry spends most of his well, losing and finding the pistol and avoiding getting killed...all pretty much without his lady love. The movie is more about their characters being apart when they should be together, instead of them being together when they should be apart. Does that make sense? Good. But in the scenes that they are together, they just shine. The chemistry between them jumps out from the screen and golly gosh darn it, you just want them to live happily ever after...still yelling at each other, of course.
Overall, we recommend that you see "The Mexican." You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll appreciate your significant other a little more. It's an inspiring romance, a clever comedy, a touching drama, and a cool action flick...all in one. So go, go! It's 4 movies in one! What da hell are you waiting for?! (said in a very convincing Mexican accent!!)
In Two Minutes:
Did you know?
- Julia Roberts recently made the Hollywood Reporter's list of "50 Most Influential Women In Show Business," the first time in the history of the list that an actress has been chosen. Wow. Good going, Jules! See what a $20 million per picture rate can get you nowadays?
- "The Mexican" was made for $35 million, less than the salaries of Pitt and Roberts combined.
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