Script Review: THE MEXICAN

by Darwin Mayflower

WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS!

(07/17/00)

After reading something like THE MEXICAN one has to ask himself: Were Quentin Tarantinos two brilliant films (RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION) worth all the movies that came after them, trying so desperately to duplicate their verve and freshness? Those inferior movies drag behind PULP and DOGS like the cinematic equivalent of a slugs slime-trail.

Thats being a bit harsh, I have to admit. Because THE MEXICAN, which was written by J.H. Wyner and stars Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, somewhat has a mind of its own.

Its almost like Tarantino with a broad sense of humor. Or maybe thats ANALYZE THIS with Taratinos dialogue.

Brad Pitt plays Jerry, a man who literally crashed into the mobster-crime lifestyle. After hitting the "big boss" with his car and, in the process, getting him busted by the police, hes put to work. After numerous screw-ups hes given a simple job: go to Mexico, get a special, hundred-year-old gun and bring it and the man holding it back to the U.S.

Jerry has a girlfriend, Anna (to be played by Roberts), that nags him about commitment and her feelings.

Jerry gets to Mexico, gets the gun -- and, of course, nothing works out from there. The race is on, so to speak, to get that beautiful, always-sparkling-in-the-sun gun. Doublecrosses, backstabbing and wacky characters abound, to be sure.

I think the most amazing thing about THE MEXICAN is the star power it attracted. David Fincher was once going to direct it. Brad Pitts been on it from the get-go. And then Julia Roberts slipped in. Theyre both on back-end deals. Meaning they liked the script so much they forwent their usual 10/20 million dollar paychecks to see it made.

The problem with THE MEXICAN is that its too Tarantinoian. The dialogue is endless and full of what can only be called post-Tarantino observances. You cant even stop in a gas station in this script without someone sounding off verbosely about sex or marriage or life in general.

I have no doubt that Mr. Wyner (whos also an actor and a director) has a great script in him. Some of the script does work. (Though its been done to death, Anna and Jerry shouting group-therapy jargon at each other is still worth a laugh.) But Mr. Wyner uses the Tarantino dialogue as both a cushion, a way to impress and a space-filler. At ninety-six pages long, THE MEXICAN just squeaks in at feature length. When you have an all-dialogue script that runs under one hundred pages -- you know its bereft of ideas.

Its strange -- Im totally ambivalent about THE MEXICAN. On the one hand I think its amateurish and forced. But I cant help and think back on its easygoing charm.

Maybe this is the problem: THE MEXICAN, for a good long while, is two scripts: Jerrys and Annas. Anna gets the good treatment. Jerrys stuck in Mexico with car thieves and leftovers from bad crime movies. Annas traveling to Las Vegas with a gay hit man whos more knowledgeable about relationships than youd think.

This character -- the gay hit man -- is going to be played by THE SOPRANOS James Gandolfini. Which brings me to another point --

While I dont think the script really works -- it burns out quickly and the ending is dull and obvious -- I cant see this not making a pretty good movie.

Just think of Julia Roberts effulgent smile next to Brad Pitts handsome visage. Perfect couple, right? Theyre in good hands, too.

Gore Verbinski is directing. Say what you will, but I enjoyed MOUSEHUNT. Its a dark, Burtonesque movie with an excellent script by Adam Rifkin.

Take that going-for-broke style, add the shining stars that are Pitt and Roberts, throw in the fabulous Gandolfini, maybe add a quick rewrite if you can, and how can you go wrong?

The only post-Tarantino film that took his style and structure and worked was Doug Limans GO. Sure -- its a total rip-off, but the actors are superb and its all-out fun.

John August was cognizant enough to sort of tear PULP FICTION inside out and rewrite it from the backend in. By changing the people who populate the world and the world itself.

Mr. Wyner doesnt quite make it to that level. But he might, if only he didnt try so hard.

-- Darwin Mayflower.