The Mexican

When Julia Roberts first gained major attention by way of movies such as "Mystic Pizza" and films such "Steel Magnolias" she seemed certain to be The Next Big Thing.

When Brad Pitt first gained major attention by way of films such as "A River Runs Through It" he seemed certain to be The Next Big Thing. Many, in fact, were saying he was the obvious heir apparent to the acting style and manner of Robert Redford.

Then something happened: Both Pitt and Roberts blinked. They deliberately attempted to destroy their respective credibility as actors.

This done it makes sense they appear in a movie, easily subtitled: Whatever Happened To. . . ?

The title of the movie in which they appear, incidentally, is "The Mexican".

And it may be, despite superficial consideration otherwise, the saving grace to their respective acting careers.

"The Mexican" involves an odd, unorthodox relationship. A relationship, incidentally, that is not between Pitt and Roberts. It is a relationship between Julia Roberts' character, Samantha, and James Gandolfini's character, Leroy.

Now you might wonder why this is, given this movie could save Roberts and Pitt from has-beendom. Well, basically, because it works better this way. It does.

Trust me.

Leroy comes from nowhere, provides a character that Pitt could not possibly portray, and, as a result, gets a very impressive acting job from Roberts. The dynamic between Leroy and Sam is such, in fact, I will go so far as to say a series of movies and films inspired by the Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn dynamic could result.

I digress. The premise of "The Mexican" is thus: 'The Mexican' of the title is actually a handgun--a priceless handgun--a Mafia-type named Margolese (Gene Hackman) wants. Okay, lusts, covets, desires.

Here's the thing: Margolese is in prison for a variety of reasons, mostly complicated. Which means he personally can't get The Mexican. So he gets Jerry (Pitt), who was partially responsible for Margolese's current predicament, who has been trying to work off a debt owed Margolese, to go after The Mexican.

Simple enough. But Jerry is a major loser. He is suppose to run errands for Margolese's lieutenant, Nayman (Bob Balaban), and he doesn't. When he screws up an important errand for Nayman he replies: Well, Samantha, she wanted the car. So the thing you wanted me to pick up at the thing. . .

Jerry is the sort of person the world could easily do without. But he is also the sort of person who has unlimited luck, and gets one more chance to do what he is supposed to do: Go to Mexico, meet a man in a bar, pick up The Mexican, and bring it back to the United States to Nayman.

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