Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Director:

George Armitage

Writers (WGA):

Tom Jankiewicz (story)
Tom Jankiewicz (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Even A Hit Man Deserves A Second Shot!

Plot:

Martin Blank is a professional assassin. He is sent on a mission to a small Detroit suburb, Grosse Pointe, and, by coincidence, his ten-year high school reunion party is taking place there at the same time.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | Reunion | High School | High School Reunion | Party

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	Martin Q. Blank
Minnie Driver	...	Debi Newberry
Alan Arkin	...	Dr. Oatman
Dan Aykroyd	...	Grocer
Joan Cusack	...	Marcella
Hank Azaria	...	Steven Lardner
K. Todd Freeman	...	Kenneth McCullers
Jeremy Piven	...	Paul Spericki
Mitch Ryan	...	Mr. Bart Newberry (as Mitchell Ryan)
Michael Cudlitz	...	Bob Destepello
Benny Urquidez	...	Felix La PuBelle
Duffy Taylor	...	Ultimart Carl
Audrey Kissel	...	Arlene
Carlos Jacott	...	Ken
Brian Powell	...	Husky Man

Also Known As:

Tiro al blanco (Argentina) (Mexico) [es]
Ein Mann, ein Mord (Germany) [de]
Grosse Pointe Blank - även en lönnmördare behöver en träff ibland (Sweden) [sv]
Grosse Pointe Blank - Erst der Mord, dann das Vergnügen (Germany) [de]
Grosse Pointe Blank: Ein Mann - Ein Mord (Germany) [de]
Grosse pointe blank - palkkamurhaaja pikkukaupungissa (Finland) [fi]
L'ultimo contratto (Italy) [it]
Le tueur de grosse pointe (Canada: French title) [fr]
O Último Contrato (Portugal) [pt]
Placanec (Slovenia) [sl]
Symvolaio thanatou (Greece) (TV title) [el]
To teleftaio symvolaio thanatou (Greece) [el]
Tueurs à gages (France) [fr]
Tueurs à gages et robes de balles (Canada: French title) [fr]
Un asesino algo especial (Spain) [es]
Zabijanie na sniadanie (Poland) [pl]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and some drug content.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #34841) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Ontario) (video rating: 2004) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 (TV version) | Spain:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

When John Cusack first goes round to Minnie Driver's house she says, "You can't come in," in a Jamaican accent. This is a reference to the song which is playing in the background - "You're Wondering Now" by The Specials, which starts off with a knock at the door followed by one of the band saying the same thing in the same (albeit more authentic) accent.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Martin shuts the Venetian blinds at the radio station, but we see an open set when he sits back down. Those blinds are on a different window.

Quotes:

Martin Q. Blank: Do you *really* believe that there's some stored up conflict that exists between us? There *is* no us. *We* don't exist. So who do you wanna hit, man? It's not me. Now whaddya wanna do here, man?
Bob: [Pulls out a folded up piece of paper]
Martin Q. Blank: I don't know what that is.
Bob: These are my words.
Martin Q. Blank: It's a poem? See, that's the problem... express yourself, Bob! Go for it.
Bob: "When I feel... quiet... when... I feel... blue..."
Martin Q. Blank: You know, I think that is *terrific*, what you have right there. Really, I liked it, a lot. I wouldn't sell the dealership or anything but, I'm tellin' ya... it's intense!
Bob: There's... more.
Martin Q. Blank: Okay, would ya mind, just skip to the end.
Bob: To... the very end? "For a while."
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Chuck: Chuck Versus the Cougars (#2.4)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Lorca's Novena

Wonderfully fun comedy

About the same time as this film was made there was a spate of hitman focused comedy dramas (from Leon to Coldblooded) so this risked being viewed in the same way as these. This is strictly a comedy - there's no deep soul searching here, the analyst is also in it for comedy value.

The story is funny and lively, the soundtrack reminded us that not all 80's music was rubbish and the whole feel of the film is one that it must have been fun to make. John Cusack is excellent as the hitman, he just seems to bring the character to life and play him in a jokey way without making fun of the film, Dan Akroyd gets the best role he's had in years as the hitman trying to get Cusack to join his union, while Minnie Driver is girly and fun - the whole cast are excellent in fact!

The film is not a classic by any means and many see it as a down side that it ignores any serious issues or that the film is set so far away from reality but for me this is part of the fun. Sit down, don't take it seriously and just enjoy the ride!