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.
Acting
Gandolfini steals every scene as tender hitman Winston.
Production
The cursed pistol's backstory vignettes deserve their own film.
Director
Gore Verbinski
Brad Pitt
Jerry Welbach
Julia Roberts
Samantha Barzel
James Gandolfini
Winston Baldry
J.K. Simmons
Ted Slocum
David Krumholtz
Beck
Bob Balaban
Bernie Nayman
Gene Hackman
Arnold Margolese
Michael Cerveris
Frank
Richard Coca
Car Thief #1
Castulo Guerra
Joe the Pawnshop Owner
Salvador Sánchez
Gunsmith
Jeremy Roberts
Bobby Victory
Daniel Escobar
Raoul
Sherman Augustus
Well Dressed Black Man
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts share only 27 minutes of screen time together. The studio fought to add more scenes; Verbinski refused.
The pistol's legend weaves real Mexican history with fabrication—Verbinski wanted a 'Maltese Falcon for the Latinx experience,' though critics noted the actual Mexican characters barely speak.
US
