← Back to results
The Mexican
2001 123 min United States of America R 18+
★6.1
Action, Comedy, Crime, Romance
Director: Gore Verbinski
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Jerry Welbach, a reluctant bagman, has been given two ultimatums: The first is from his mob boss to travel to Mexico and retrieve a priceless antique pistol, known as "the Mexican"... or suffer the consequences. The second is from his girlfriend Samantha to end his association with the mob. Jerry figures alive and in trouble with Samantha is better than the more permanent alternative, so he heads south of the border.
Budget:
$57M
US Gross:
$66.85M
Worldwide:
$147.85M
Starring
Brad Pitt
Actor
Julia Roberts
Actor
James Gandolfini
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 2 nominations total
Key opinion
The Mexican is generally viewed as an engaging and eccentric genre-blend that succeeds largely due to the charisma and chemistry of its lead cast. While critics and audiences enjoy its humorous tone and unique narrative, some find the pacing uneven and the script occasionally clichéd or thin.
| Acting | The ensemble cast, particularly the nuanced performances of Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, and James Gandolfini, serves as the film’s primary strength. | |
| Score | Alan Silvestri’s score effectively enhances the film's emotional atmosphere and captures the intended Mexican-inspired tone. | |
| Humor | The film succeeds in balancing dark humor with a heartfelt, unconventional love story that avoids standard romantic tropes. | |
| Originality | The story effectively weaves a legendary, slightly mystical backdrop into a road-trip crime narrative, distinguishing it from typical gangster films. | |
| Pacing | The three-hour, or otherwise long-feeling, structure leads to debate: some viewers find the slow, contemplative early scenes rewarding, while others find the pacing sluggish and in need of trimming. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided, with some praising its thematic depth regarding relationships, while others feel it relies on clichés and fails to maintain narrative momentum. |