Paul J. Nemecek
The phrase "Mexican standoff" refers to a situation in which people have guns pointed at each other and everyone is afraid to make a move for fear of getting shot. There are a couple of scenes in The Mexican that actually involve Mexican standoffs. I think the image works as a description for the movie as a whole--lots of firepower but nothing really happens.Brad Pitt plays a loser whose specialties seems to be learned helplessness and serious ineptitude. Julia Roberts plays his sometimes cute, but usually shrill, girlfriend. The Mexican is a pistol that Pitt must recover in Mexico so as to be free from the gangsters who use him as a gopher. Roberts threatens to leave him if he goes. From this point on the plot is fairly predictable (think Romancing the Stone meets The Three Stooges in Tijuana).There are some nice touches in this film, but the nice touches are pretty offbeat. For example, James Gandolfini steals the show as a sensitive gay hit man who discovers love along the way. There are also some nice touches in the multiple versions of the legend of the pistol that remind one of Kurosawa's Rashomon.But the occasional nice touch does not translate into a good movie. There are three great actors wasted in this muddled mess, and the story lacks creativity. Roberts and Pitt turn in some interesting over-the-top performances, but there is not much chemistry between them. In fact, the real chemistry was between Gandolfini (the gay hit man) and Roberts. There could have been an interesting movie if the sub-plot had been the major plot. This part of the story brings out the part of Roberts that audiences have come to expect. Alas, the shrieking and shrill Roberts dominates in this film, and this character becomes tiresome very quickly. In the end, the story degenerates into ethnic stereotypes and tinseltown cliches and ends up being much ado about nothing. For Julia's sake, let's hope the members of the Motion Picture Academy cast their ballots before seeing her in this film. Skip The Mexican, pop your own popcorn, and curl up with the videotape of Notting Hill.
doughyrax
How this got such mediocre reviews is just beyond me .... it was a great story, great casting and stellar performance. The only thing might be the corny backstory of the gun itself, but even that winds up being charming ....if anyone has not seen this film all I can say is you are in for a treat
Armand
only a nice film who propose interesting roles for great actors. adventure, romanticism and few drops of comedy. not great ambition, not extraordinary movie. but useful for a Sunday evening. because, without be memorable, it propose tension and good acting. a Brad Pitt different by the ordinaries roles and Julia Roberts in a new light. and, sure, a seductive James Gandolfini. a thing as key of great events. love and search and a way not easy and a strong woman. all presented in right manner. the real interesting - memories about old fashion westerns and little drops from Indiana Jones. and it could be enough. for pure entertainment.
Python Hyena
The Mexican (2001): Dir: Gore Verbinski / Cast: Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, James Gandolfini, Bob Balaban, Gene Hackman: The running joke is the constant misinterpretation of a story of a gun called the Mexican and those who fired it. Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts have broken up after she learns that his life of crime isn't over. He is assigned to travel to Mexico to obtain the legendary gun but everything goes wrong. Interesting setup becomes uneven and pointlessly violent. Director Gore Verbinski handles the humour and action well but the screenplay is a mess. This is a set up from his previous junk Mouse Hunt. Pitt never seems to be in the same movie as he is constantly messing up and proving to be the screw up Roberts claimed that he was when she tossed his clothes out the window in the opening. Roberts is in better form due to her kidnap and amusing dealings with her captor. Why we are suppose to care if she and Pitt get back together is beyond me. James Gandolfini delivers the best performance as a gay hit-man sent to kidnap Roberts and then learning a bit about himself and forced to soul search. Bob Balaban also makes an appearance in cardboard fashion. Gene Hackman is a great actor and he appears briefly in a key scene and steals the moment. Well crafted film about misinterpreted information as stories become warped through each passing voice that delivers it. Score: 6 ½ / 10
AD
