The Whole Nine Yards (2000)

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writer (WGA):

Mitchell Kapner (written by)

Release Date:

18 February 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In the heart of suburbia, a hit man with heart has just moved in.

Plot:

Nick is a struggling dentist in Canada. A new neighbor moves in, and he discovers that it is Jimmy "The Tulip" Teduski. His wife convinces him to go to Chicago and inform the mob boss who wants Jimmy dead.

Plot Keywords:

Tulip | Dentist | Neighbor | Canada | Hitman

Awards:

4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 30	1:30 PM	AMC
Tue. Dec. 1	11:00 AM	AMC

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Jimmy 'The Tulip' Tudeski
Matthew Perry	...	Nicholas 'Oz' Oseransky
Rosanna Arquette	...	Sophie Oseransky
Michael Clarke Duncan	...	Franklin 'Frankie Figs' Figueroa
Natasha Henstridge	...	Cynthia Tudeski
Amanda Peet	...	Jill St. Claire
Kevin Pollak	...	Janni Pytor Gogolak
Harland Williams	...	Special Agent Steve Hanson
Carmen Ferland	...	Sophie's Mom (as Carmen Ferlan)
Serge Christianssens	...	Mr. Boulez
Renee Madeline Le Guerrier	...	Waitress (as Renée Madelaine Le Guerrier)
Jean-Guy Bouchard	...	Mover
Howard Bilerman	...	Dave Martin
Johnny Goar	...	Hungarian Hood
Deano Clavet	...	Polish Pug
Stephanie Biddle	...	Jazz Singer
Charles Biddle Sr.	...	Bass Player (as Charles Biddle)
Geoff Lapp	...	Pianist
Gary Gold	...	Drummer
Robert Burns	...	Mr. Tourette
France Arbour	...	Mrs. Boulez
Sean Devine	...	Sergeant Buchanan
Richard Jutras	...	Officer Morrissey
Mark Camacho	...	Interrogator #1
Joanna Noyes	...	Interrogator #2
John Sanford Moore	...	Bank Manager (as John Moore)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kent McQuaid	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Mike Tsar	...	Oyster Chef (uncredited)
Rumer Willis	...	Girl running between Jimmy and Oz (uncredited)

Directed by
Jonathan Lynn

Writing credits (WGA)
Mitchell Kapner		(written by)

Produced by
Don Carmody	....	co-producer
Mike Drake	....	line producer
Stephen J. Eads	....	associate producer (as Stephen Eads)
James A. Holt	....	co-producer
Allan Kaufman	....	producer
Elie Samaha	....	executive producer
Tracee Stanley	....	co-producer
Andrew Stevens	....	executive producer
David Willis	....	producer

Original Music by
Randy Edelman
Gary Gold

Cinematography by
David Franco

Film Editing by
Tom Lewis

Casting by
Nancy Nayor

Production Design by
David L. Snyder

Art Direction by
André Chamberland

Set Decoration by
Mary Lynn Deachman

Costume Design by
Edi Giguere

Makeup Department
Clair Blondel	....	key makeup artist (as Clair Van Der Elst)
Larysa Chernienko	....	assistant makeup artist
Nathalie Garon	....	hairdresser
Johanne Hansen	....	hairdresser
Catherine Lavoie	....	makeup artist
Gerald Quist	....	makeup artist: Bruce Willis
Peggy Semtob	....	hair stylist
Lorraine Craig	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Eric Bergman	....	post-production supervisor
Stéphane Falardeau	....	unit manager
Micheline Garant	....	unit production manager
Michel Leroux	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michelle Benoit	....	third assistant director
Stéphane Byl	....	first assistant director: second unit
Carl Roméo Desjardins	....	second assistant director
Chris Early	....	third assistant director: Niagara Falls
Myron Hoffert	....	first assistant director
Mandy Ketcheson	....	second assistant director: Niagara Falls
David L. Snyder	....	second unit director

Art Department
Caroline Alder	....	draughtsman
Carole Arpin	....	assistant props
Serge Bernard	....	construction
Alain Bouchard	....	scenic painter
Gérard Boucher	....	construction
Alain Brochu	....	construction
Michel Brochu	....	construction
Brenton Brown	....	on-set dresser
Joseane Brunelle	....	scenic painter
François Cardon	....	construction
Richard Cardon	....	construction
Jocelyn Clouàtre	....	swing gang
Philippe De Berger	....	scenic painter
Marc C. De Léry	....	property master
Silvain Dion	....	swing gang
Bruce Farrell	....	swing gang
Carrie Foster	....	art department coordinator
Luc Gagnier	....	swing gang
Spiri Katerelos	....	art department assistant
Christian Lafortune	....	swing gang
Eric Lafrance	....	lead carpenter
Étienne Lapointe-Proulx	....	property master
Étienne Lapointe-Proulx	....	set property master
Jean Larose	....	scenic painter
Paul Le Maire	....	swing gang
Hélene Lemieux	....	scenic painter
Amélie Leonard	....	assistant set dresser
Gilles L'Heureux	....	swing gang
Philippe Lord	....	assistant set dresser
Julie Montplaisir	....	art department assistant
Jean-Pierre Paquet	....	assistant art director
Tristan Tondino	....	head scenic painter
Cindy Torreiro	....	assistant set dresser
Francis Tremblay	....	set dresser
Louis Trudeau	....	scenic painter

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Eric Chentrier	....	cable person
Don Cohen	....	production sound mixer
Don Cohen	....	sound mixer
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist
Julie Feiner	....	adr editor
Robert Fitzgerald	....	supervising dialogue editor (as Bob Fitzgerald)
David Grimaldi	....	sound effects editor
Randall Guth	....	sound effects editor
Charles Hamilton	....	digital playback operator
Michael Hilkene	....	supervising sound editor
Thierry Hoffman	....	boom operator
Mark Johnston	....	digital playback operator (as Mark S. Johnston)
Linda Lew	....	foley recordist
Gail K. Markley	....	assistant to sound supervisor
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Douglas Parker	....	sound effects editor
Bryan Pennington	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo
Eric Pinckert	....	apprentice sound editor
Ken S. Polk	....	sound re-recording mixer
Pernell L. Salinas	....	first assistant sound editor
Christopher T. Welch	....	foley editor (as C.T. Welch)

Special Effects by
Ryal Cosgrove	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Minor Mustain	....	stunt coordinator
Alvin Powell	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Kelly Baylis	....	grip
Robert B. Baylis	....	key grip (as Bob Baylis)
Michel Bernier	....	first assistant camera
Guy Bissonette	....	key grip: second unit
Yvan Brunet	....	focus puller: second camera
Carlo Campana	....	key grip: Niagara Falls
Christian Caperaa	....	camera loader
Steve Couto	....	grip: Niagara Falls
Carolyn Cox	....	focus puller: Niagara Falls
Mathieu Décary	....	focus puller: second camera
Pierre Dury	....	still photographer
Pierre Fournier	....	second assistant camera
Robert Guertin	....	director of photography: second unit
Robert Guertin	....	second camera operator
John Harris	....	electrician
Olivier Henley	....	camera trainee
Serge Hughes	....	clapper loader: second unit
Pierric Jouvante	....	electrician
Maarten Kroonenburg	....	focus puller: second unit
Sylvain Labrecque	....	best boy grip
Eric Lefèbvre	....	electrician
Alain Masse	....	dolly grip
Edward Mikolic	....	gaffer: Niagara Falls
Claude Pothier	....	best boy: second unit
Mathieu Price	....	grip
Louis Rivard	....	grip
Peter Stranks	....	still photographer
John Trapman	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Normand Viau	....	gaffer (as Norman Viau)
Paul Viau	....	best boy electric
Pierre Vinet	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Sheryl Bettencourt	....	casting assistant
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
Jennifer Ricchiazzi	....	casting assistant
Linda Rona	....	extras casting
Nadia Rona	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Brunet	....	dresser
Avery Gibbard	....	assistant costume designer
Marie-Hélène Ménard	....	dresser
Madeleine Perras	....	key dresser
Art Reasonover	....	wardrobe master
Frederique Sarrazin	....	dresser

Editorial Department
Carrina Baccanale	....	assistant editor (as Carina Baccanale)
Christopher S. Baird	....	assistant editor (as Chris Baird)
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Jacqueline Carmody	....	assistant editor
Jeff Etcher	....	assistant editor
Vince Filippone	....	assistant editor: avid
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Lorraine Samuel	....	assistant editor
Paul M. Wagner	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Elton Ahi	....	score mixer
Elton Ahi	....	score recordist
Spring Aspers	....	music supervisor
Bronwen Boyan	....	music coordinator
Gary Gold	....	music consultant
Gary Gold	....	music coordinator
E. Gedney Webb	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Eric Brais	....	picture vehicle assistant
Aleck Duncan	....	driver: cast
Réal Hamel	....	picture car coordinator
Neil Montgomerie	....	transportation coordinator
James Sanchez	....	head driver
Joe Sanchez	....	transportation coordinator (as Joseph Sanchez)
Jerome Wheeler	....	driver production assistant

Other crew
Gregory Abel	....	production assistant
Christine Anthony	....	location scout
Olivier Barzic	....	production assistant
Marie Beaulieu	....	script supervisor
Christian Bergeron	....	production assistant
Robert Biddle	....	security officer
Martin Brisebois	....	stand-in: Matthew Perry
Pierre Brunet	....	location manager
Karine Chagnon	....	stand-in
Leslie Chase	....	assistant: Mr. Lynn
Pierre Cheminat	....	office runner
Jana Conley	....	assistant to producers
Lisa Convery	....	production assistant
Jean-Marc De Virieux	....	production assistant
Paul Dupont	....	safety coordinator
Frank J. Ellison	....	production accountant (as Frank Ellison)
Jean-François Éthier	....	production assistant
Pamela Godfrey	....	publicist
Marci Graber	....	post-production accountant
Sofie Handfield	....	production coordinator
Amanda Hayward	....	assistant: Mr. Carmody
Raymond Hyatt	....	stand-in
Nancy Klein	....	assistant accountant
Isabelle Laisné	....	stand-in
Dominique Leroutier	....	location assistant
Marie-France Long	....	production secretary
Martin Michaud	....	production assistant
Tyler Mitchell	....	assistant: Mr. Lynn
Tyler-Jane Mitchel	....	assistant: Mr. Lynn
Martin Monette	....	production assistant
Gilles Montreuil	....	assistant accountant
Sylvie Normandin	....	assistant: Mr. Lynn
Massimo Nouhra	....	production financing
Michèle-Barbara Pelletier	....	production assistant
Louis-Martin Pepperall	....	assistant: Mr. Perry
Marie Quesnel	....	production coordinator
Cindy Roth	....	assistant: Ms. Rona
Sherri Rufh	....	production secretary
Benjamin Sales	....	production assistant
Lise Servant	....	payroll accountant
Eric T. Snyder	....	location manager (as Erik Snyder)

Production Companies

• Franchise Pictures
• Lansdown Films
• Morgan Creek Productions
• Nine Yards Productions
• Rational Packaging Company

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• United King Films (Israel)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2003) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sherlock Media S.L. (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2000) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (Far East)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (Germany)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Avsar Film (2000) (Turkey) (all media)
• Cinematografica Distributori Indipendenti (CDI)
• Distribution Company (Argentina)
• Eagle Films (2000) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Manga Films (2000) (Spain) (all media)
• New Films International
• Odeon (Greece)
• SBS6 (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• SubTV (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France)
• Warner Bros.

Special Effects

• Cineffects Productions
• Digiscope (digital effects)
• Pacific Title/Mirage (digital effects)
• Texa FX Group (special effects makeup)

Other Companies

• Call Time  security: Niagra Falls unit
• Cold Blue Rentals  weapons supplied by
• Dimension Sound  sound editing
• Elite Casting  casting: Canada
• Flashpoint Studios  production assistance
• Le Groupe Eclipse  electric equipment provided by
• Locations Michel Trudel  camera and grip equipment provided by
• One Step Up  foley recorded at
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Safeguard Investigation and Security Services  security: Bruce Willis
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by
• Warner Bros. Studios  re-recorded at

Also Known As:

Le nouveau voisin (Canada: French title)
Üheksa jardi (Estonia) [et]
Bérgyilkos a szomszédom (Hungary) [hu]
FBI: Protezione testimoni (Italy) [it]
Falsas Aparências (Portugal) [pt]
Falsas apariencias (Spain) [es]
Full pakke (Norway) [no]
Keine halben Sachen (Germany) [de]
Koko potti (Finland) [fi]
Komsum bir katil (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Meu Vizinho Mafioso (Brazil) [pt]
Mi vecino, el asesino (Argentina) [es]
Mon voisin le tueur (France) [fr]
Ni fod under (Denmark) [da]
Oss torpeder emellan (Sweden) [sv]
Ubica mekog srca (Serbia) [sr]

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English | French | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:18 | Netherlands:16 (video rating) | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Colombia:12 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Chicago Tribune - 435 N. Michigan Avenue, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Franchise Pictures

Trivia:

The movie playing in the background when Janni and Frankie go to kill Jimmy is Key Largo (1948).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Oz enters the hotel room, Jimmy is sitting in a chair with his trigger finger indexed along the slide of the gun (as it should be). When the camera angle changes to behind Jimmy, his finger is instantly on the trigger (where it shouldn't be).

Quotes:

Janni Gogolack: Don't blong.
Oz: "Don't blong"?
Janni Gogolack: [Annoyed] Don't-BE-long!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Mon Paradis

Black Comedy from Jonathan Lynn

Is a guy who has killed seventeen people necessarily a `bad' guy? Not a question everybody is going to have to ask themselves, to be sure, but what if that guy moved in next door to you? It's a situation that just may induce an introspective moment or two. Which is exactly what happens in `The Whole Nine Yards,' directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry. Hit-man Jimmy `The Tulip' Tudeski (Willis) ratted out his boss in Chicago, and now he's on the lam. He makes his way to Canada, where he buys a house next door to a hapless dentist, Nicholas `Oz' Oseransky (Perry), who is suffering from inherited debts and a shrew of a wife, Sophie (Rosanna Arquette), not to mention a mother-in-law from Hell (Carmen Ferland). When he realizes who his neighbor is about to be, his first instinct is to run, but Sophie has other ideas. It seems there's a price on Jimmy's head; one Janni Gogolack (Kevin Pollak) would like to take his revenge on the guy who's responsible for his father going away for a long, long time. So Sophie squeezes Oz into a corner until he agrees to go to Chicago and meet with Janni to put the finger on Jimmy. Not a great idea, Oz thinks, but it at least sounds like a nice vacation, so he goes. But, of course, he should have stayed with his instincts, because he soon finds himself looking down the barrel of trouble. And the only way out, it seems, is down...

What Lynn put together here is actually a fairly light-hearted, black comedy; the nature of the story dictates that there will be violence in it, and there is, but much of it is implied rather than graphic. The pace is good, and Lynn develops the characters enough to let you know exactly who they are and what they are all about. There's not a lot of depth, but it's not necessary; the actors have each made their respective characters unique to a point that puts them beyond stereotype, and it works perfectly for this film and the story. Some of what happens is inevitable, though not necessarily predictable, and certain aspects will keep you guessing right up to the end. Typical of a comedy that leans to the dark side, nothing in this story is cut and dried.

Willis is perfect as Jimmy The Tulip, giving a rather reserved, subtle performance that puts Jimmy's guarded but confident manner into perspective. Underneath it all, this guy is really rather cold-blooded (he has to be, given his choice of employment), but his relationship with Oz gives it some warmth, at least externally. Like Chow Yun-Fat in `The Killer,' Jimmy is likable, but when you consider at arm's length who he is and what he is capable of, it's a bit disconcerting. And that's one of the aspects of the film that is so interesting-- because you know who and what Jimmy is, you never really know which way things are going to turn.

Perry is excellent, as well, as `Oz.' Henpecked and in dire straits, he is something of an updated version of the W.C. Fields character in `It's A Gift' or `The Bank Dick,' although a bit darker. Perry is charismatic, has impeccable timing with his delivery and uses physical comedy to great effect. His reactions to Willis and the situations in which he finds himself are brilliant and hilarious, and he seems to instinctively know just how far to take it to make it work. And it's the little, seemingly insignificant things he brings to the character that give the film that extra something and creates some memorable moments.

The supporting cast includes Michael Clarke Duncan (Frankie Figs), Natasha Henstridge (Cynthia), Amanda Peet (Jill St. Claire), Harland Williams (Special Agent Hanson) and Serge Christianssens (Mr. Boulez). It may not be the most original movie ever made, but `The Whole Nine Yards' is funny, has a great cast of actors who have taken characters you've basically seen before and made them their own, and does exactly what a film like this is supposed to do: Entertain. It's not going to make you ponder the universe or the state of the world today, but it's going to give you a couple of hours of laughs and some residual chuckles. Which, when you think about it, is not such a bad deal. It's the magic of the movies. I rate this one 7/10.