Movie Memory Machine

"From Brad Pitt's unfortunate driving skills to Julia Roberts sharing life lessons with a hitman, this mini-episode revisits The Mexican (2001) and its curious mix of genres."

Episode Description

In this mini-episode, Landen and Truman dive deeper into The Mexican (2001), exploring Brad Pitt’s knack for awkward misadventures, Julia Roberts’ surprisingly heartfelt road trip with James Gandolfini, and the film's attempt to juggle crime, comedy, and romance. They also play "Trailer Tropes," guessing which clichés made it into the marketing campaign and pondering why nobody trusted Jerry with a car.

Major Cast and Crew

• Director: Gore Verbinski


• Writer: J.H. Wyman


• Main Cast:
  
  
  • Brad Pitt as Jerry Welbach
  
  
  • Julia Roberts as Samantha Barzel
  
  
  • James Gandolfini as Leroy
  
  
  
  

Film Synopsis

Jerry Welbach (Brad Pitt) is tasked with retrieving a cursed gun called "The Mexican" for his mob bosses, but things go hilariously wrong when his girlfriend Samantha (Julia Roberts) ends up bonding with a philosophical hitman (James Gandolfini). With fate, comedy, and stray bullets colliding, Jerry must figure out if the curse lies with the gun—or his own bad luck.

Episode Highlights

• Why Jerry Welbach might be Brad Pitt's least competent character ever.


• Julia Roberts and James Gandolfini’s chemistry: surprisingly sweet or oddly mismatched?


• The trailer game: Which clichés did the marketing team overplay?


• The mystery of "The Mexican" pistol: Is it cursed, or just poorly made?


• Revisiting Gore Verbinski’s knack for blending humor with chaos.

What’s your favorite unexpected duo in a movie? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media—we’d love to hear your picks!

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