Monday February 19, 2001

The Mexican

Two of the hottest, highest-paid stars on the planet are sharing the big screen for the first time ever. It's a rocky romance, between Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt in the off beat comedy, "The Mexican." Brad Pitt explains, "Putting us in this kind of character ensemble piece, low budget gonzo, down and dirty film was kind of the fun of it."

Leeza: You seem to be attracted to that kind of material anyway.

Julia: I am too, I want more, more grit. I am good all filthy.

It was hot and dirty on location in this isolated Mexican village. Brad plays a reluctant con man that has to find a priceless antique pistol. Julia plays Brad's girlfriend whose needs aren't being met. She says, "It's all a competition, tit for tat. Stop yelling."

Leeza: Did that ring true for you, do you think most men and women are that way?

Brad: Aspects of it certainly. It is that bickering or bantering.

Julia: Bickering or bantering. He calls it bickering, I call it bantering.

Leeza: We are used to seeing you (Julia) funny, I think a lot of people will be surprised with Brad. Was that risky for you?"

Brad: A little bit but listen, you never know what it is going to be. But that is the fun of it, it felt good to me, it was funny to me.

Both Brad and Julia inhabit the role of movie star with perfect grace and their soul intact. With successful careers and happy high profile relationships off screen.

Leeza: If you had to teach movie star 101 what would the course be like?

Julia: It would start with movie star is a media contrivance label that has nothing to do with anything you will ever in your life.

Brad: Wow.

Julia: It is a hollow, hollow label that serves a purpose in black and white but there is no purpose in flesh tones.

Brad: I am going to your school!