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:

Glock | Radio Station | Drunkenness | Terrorist | Drunk

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]
Último Contrato, O (Portugal) [pt]
Asesino algo especial, Un (Spain) [es]
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]
Mann, ein Mord, Ein (Germany) [de]
Placanec (Slovenia) [sl]
Symvolaio thanatou (Greece) (TV title) [el]
Teleftaio symvolaio thanatou, To (Greece) [el]
Tueur de grosse pointe, Le (Canada: French title) [fr]
Tueurs à gages (France) [fr]
Tueurs à gages et robes de balles (Canada: French title) [fr]
Ultimo contratto, L' (Italy) [it]
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:

SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) (video rating: 2004) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | South Korea:15 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | USA:R (certificate #34841) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (original rating) | Iceland:16 | 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:

Caravan Pictures

Trivia:

Just after Martin has put on his neck tie to go to the reunion there is a poster on the wall for The Clash's "Out Of Control" tour. The score is credited to Joe Strummer of The Clash. Also, as Martin rounds the bend while headed to his locker, there is a banner on the wall "The Future is Unwritten", a Bio-Documentary about Joe Strummer's life released in 2007.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the cemetery, Martin removes the cork from the whiskey bottle, leaving some of the foil on the neck. When he upends the bottle, whiskey pours unevenly because the foil is blocking part of the bottle opening. In the next shot there is no foil on the bottleneck and the whiskey pours freely.

Quotes:

Mr. Grocer: Hey, if you're lookin' for a father figure I'll give you a spankin'!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A History of Violence (2005)

Soundtrack:

You're Wondering Now

new found respect for John Cusak

We rented this movie off the recommendations of my brothers friends, which I normally can't trust. Not only do I have a new found respect for John Cusak, (Who I, being a female under the age of thirty-five, love) but I have a respect for the recommendors opinions.

This movie was very well scripted, with witty dialogue between characters. There are often references to older movies and whatnot. The dialogue is well acted by everyone, especially John Cusak. The dialogue is matched with an excellent soundtrack as well.

One of the more noticeable things about this movie is that it's incredibly unique. It's almost a love story about a hit-man who wants a second chance. Another aspect of this is that at some points, it is completely ridiculous -- but in the best of ways.

Over all, a worthwhile movie to watch, I'd recommend it to everyone.