Directed by Gore Verbinski
Written by J.H. Wyman

Brad Pitt .... Jerry Welbach
Julia Roberts .... Samantha Barzel
James Gandolfini .... Leroy
David Krumholtz .... Beck
Gene Hackman .... Margolis
Luis Felipe Tovar .... Luis
Bob Balaban .... Nalin J.K. Simmons

Produced by John Baldecchi Christopher Ball (executive), William S. Beasley (co-producer), Lawrence Bender, Paul Hellerman (CO-producer), Aaron Ryder (executive), Steven Spielberg (uncredited executive), William Tyrer (executive), J.H. Wyman (executive)
Original music by Alan Silvestri
Cinematography by Dariusz Wolski
Film Editing by Craig Wood

Rated R for violence and language

1. Main Title 2. Blame Shifting 3. Oye 4. These Boots are Made for Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra 5. 10% Clint 6. Leroy's Morning 7. Why Can't We Be Friends 8. Want Our Life Back 9. Frank's Dead 10. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin 11. Jerry & Ted To Pawn 12. The Mexican 13. Airport 14. The Safety Dance - Men Without Hats 15. El Cable 16. Margolese Compound 17. Where's My Stuff 18. Thieves 19. A Good F'ing Reason 20. It's Cursed, that Gun 21. Oye, Oye 22. A Miracle 23. The Mexican - End Credits Medley

At first glance, this is a secular film, a story in which religion plays no role at all. However there are interesting parallels here to the Book of Esther, as first pointed out by Guy Matalon, of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. (The full text of his article is available at http://www.unomaha.edu/~wwwjrf/esther.htm.)

The overarching similarity lies firstly in God's concealed intervention. In the story of Esther, the Jewish people are redeemed by God, through Esther; and in The Mexican, the soul trapped in the gun is released by divine intervention, through Jerry.

Like Mordechai in the Book of Esther, Margolis (the imprisoned mob boss who sent Jerry to retrieve the gun) is aware that it is not bungling human beings who can bring about redemption, but some greater power. Like Esther, Jerry is ill prepared for the task assigned to him. But, like Esther, he is pure-hearted, as one can tell from his inability to act ruthlessly. Jerry feels bound to explain to a car thief why he must shoot him! There are also similarities between Haman, the villain of Esther's story, and Nilan, who wanted "The Mexican" only for its financial value. Haman receives his just reward by being hung on the gallows he had built for Esther, and Nilan is shot by the gun whose retrieval he used to separate Samantha and Jerry (offering Jerry a job which proffered "sex and travel").

In the end, Esther and her people are saved and the soul trapped in the gun is released, for God (even when we forget that He is there) continues to work to save his faithful people.
Silke

A man who is after Jerry suddenly kidnaps her. Jennifer is anything but happy with Jerry. She has had enough of him.

THE QUESTION
(asked several times in the film):
If two people really love each other, but, they just can't get it together, when do you get to that point where enough is enough?

COMMITMENT

He who lightly assents will seldom keep his word.
- CHINESE PROVERB

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
- JIM ELLIOT (1927?1956)

Sometimes a man imagines that he will lose himself if he gives himself, and keep himself if he hides himself. But the contrary takes place with terrible exactitude.
- ERNEST HELLO (1828?1885)

Commitment without reflection is fanaticism in action. But reflection without commitment is the paralysis of all action.
- JOHN MACKAY

What does God require? Everything!
- ERWIN W. LUTZER (1941? )

But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
THE BIBLE, Ruth 1:16 -New Living Translation

ABOUT THIS MOVIE
Subject: The_Mexican
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002
From: Jamie

One of the worst movies I have ever seen. Characters I dont care about and a plot that does not make one scape of sense!

Response: Well, I liked it. Althought it was not a great film. -David

LOVE AND COMMITMENT
Subject: Mexican Review
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001
From: Heinen

The Mexican's underlying theme is one of love and commitment. One of the lines that is repeated several times throughout the movies is: "When two people love each other, but they just can't quite get it together, when is enough, enough?" At the end of the movie both Jerry and Samantha come to the conclusion that enough is never enough. This movie presents very positive views of love and relationships, in the end deciding that love is worth pursuing, and is more than a physical attraction. Many aspects of the legend of the gun parallel Jerry and Samantha's story. The way that the producer develops the legend of "The Mexican", as the movie progresses parallels Jerry's eventual realization of his love for Samantha. There are a few things in the movie that Christians should disagree with. Despite the fact that the movie depicts a love relationship as involving commitment, it also seems to make the stretch that marriage is not necessary, that living together before marriage is perfectly acceptable. The movie also depicted "Leroy's" homosexual relationship as completely acceptable. There was also a considerable amount of swearing, and a little violence in this movie. In one of the first scenes of the movie, the dominance that Samantha has over Jerry in their relationship is made very clear. Samantha is on the balcony, hurling Jerry's luggage at him, and telling him that she's going to leave him. The low angle used to film Samantha and the high angle used to film Jerry make her dominance very clear. The Mexican was a very good movie that showed a different perspective on relationships than filmmakers typically present.

HIDDEN MORALS
Subject: The Mexican Review
Date: Wed, 30 May 2001
From: Vander

The Mexican has some good morals, but they are well hidden. However if some discretion is used then it is worth it to see the film mostly because it is entertaining. That is the best reason thre is to see a film. The technical elements really added to the film. For example the scene where Samantha is on the balcony throwing Jerry's clothes down at him clearly shows Samantha's dominance in the situation and in their relationship. The main theme of the movie, which says that you should never give up fixing a broken relationship, is sound biblical advice. It is advise that needs to be heard because our society is full of broken relationships. This advice goes against what most people think; because the mentality of most people is that they should do only what they think is best for them. The high divorce rate in our society is evidence that people do give up fixing their broken relationships. Perhaps this movie could cause people to question the way they think about relationships, and help them put into perspective what is really important in this life. However it does of course miss out on what is really the most important thing in life, Jesus. But it is on the right track, because relationships with other people are also very important. Also to be taken into consideration is that there is bad language, violence, and many other things that a Christian wouldn?t agree with. The Mexican is still defiantly worth seeing because of its entertainment value and its good theme.

IN RESPONSE TO JUDY
Subject: In response to Judy in Va:
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001
From: Michael

In response to Judy in Va:

You say you almost walked out. That means that you didn't, so evidently it wasn't too bad. I'm a christian, and I didn't think that it was a great movie, but I didn't think that it was a horrible movie either. WE ALL (meaning all christians) need to realize that we aren't above anything or anyone else. I bet that you were especially offended by the homosexual content of the movie. Guess what? It isn't any worse than people saying, "I can't believe that you even gave this movie a review". I'm not trying to be rude. I just think that too often christians get an "holier than thou" attitude.

BAD
Subject: Mexican
Date: Fri, 20 Apr 2001
From: Michael

Gandolfino good...the rest: bad.

WHY DID YOU REVIEW THIS FILM
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2001
From: Judy in Va.

I cannot believe your review of this movie. I almost walked out of the theater! The only thing good about this movie was the popcorn I was eating! I don't think Jesus would approve of the language and the sexual content in this movie. I am a christain lady and I love a good movie, but this was not one that I would recommend to any of my friends. I am shocked at you comments! God help you!
Judy in Va.

Response: Reviews are reviews, not recommendations. May God help me, you say? Wow! Well, thank you ...I think. -David