Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
107 min -
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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. Director:George ArmitageWriters:Tom Jankiewicz (story), Tom Jankiewicz (screenplay), D.V. DeVincentis (screenplay), and 2 more credits » |
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2 wins
&
4 nominations
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Top Billed Cast
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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John Cusack | ... | |
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Minnie Driver | ... | |
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Alan Arkin | ... | |
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Dan Aykroyd | ... | |
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Joan Cusack | ... | |
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Hank Azaria | ... | |
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K. Todd Freeman | ... | |
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Jeremy Piven | ... | |
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Mitch Ryan | ... |
Mr. Bart Newberry
(as Mitchell Ryan)
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Michael Cudlitz | ... | |
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Benny Urquidez | ... | |
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Duffy Taylor | ... | |
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Audrey Kissel | ... | |
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Carlos Jacott | ... | |
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Brian Powell | ... | |
Storyline
Martin Blank is a freelance hitman who starts to develop a conscience, which causes him to muff a couple of routine assignments. On the advice of his secretary and his psychiatrist, he attends his 10th year High School reunion in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (a Detroit suburb where he's also contracted to kill someone). Hot on his tail are a couple of over-enthusiastic federal agents, another assassin who wants to kill him, and Grocer, an assassin who wants him to join an "Assassin's Union." Written by Afterburner <aburner@erols.com>
Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis | Keywords (Spoiler Alert!) »Taglines:
Even A Hit Man Deserves A Second Shot! See more »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong violence, language and some drug content. See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »Fun Facts
Trivia
When Minnie Driver tells John Cusack at her apartment that he's a "...psycho," she can be seen moving her hand as though talking. In an interview, Cusack said that this was an ad-lib, as she had seen John and Joan Cusack doing something similar with each other on the set, off-camera. See more »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. See more »Quotes
Mr. Grocer: Kid, I'm putting together a little concern, which would enable those of us in our, uh, rarified profession to avoid embarrassing overlaps.Martin Q. Blank: What, like a union?
Mr. Grocer: More like a club. You know, work less, make more.
Martin Q. Blank: Wow, sounds like a great idea, but... thank you, no.
Mr. Grocer: No? You remember Burma?
Martin Q. Blank: Yeah, I do.
Mr. Grocer: That nut, General Kwang? You were like a... colonel in that army, weren't you?
Martin Q. Blank: Yeah, yeah, he sold you all those tanks, you shipped 'em to Alabama...
Mr. Grocer: T-34s, I took a bath on that.
Martin Q. Blank: Yeah, that was fun.
[...]
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Soundtracks
"Sharks Can't Sleep"Written and Performed by Tracy Bonham
Courtesy of Island Records, Inc.
By Arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing See more »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
11 April 1997 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Tiro al blanco See more »Filming Locations:
Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Box Office
Budget:
$15,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$6,870,397 (USA) (13 April 1997) (1227 Screens)Gross:
$28,014,536 (USA) (10 August 1997)Company Credits
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I love this movie. Grosse Pointe Blank is smart and witty and has a stunning 1980s soundtrack. Martin Blank (Cusack) is an angst ridden international hit-man who has stopped enjoying his work. He searches for meaning in his life and returns to Grosse Pointe, Michigan for his 10th year High School reunion and one last job. Blank meets his mom, some old friends and discovers that his childhood home has been knocked down to make way for a convenience store. He ponders his life choices and has recurring dreams about Debi Newberry (Driver) the girl he stood up on Prom night.
Blank's activities have attracted a collection of hit men trying to find an excuse to kill him. These include Aykroyd, two federal agents and a freelance Basque hit-man. There is a shoot-out at the end and overall the film has a large body count, but Cusack makes Blank seem like a lovable version of Jason Bourne. The film is something of an ensemble piece with great comic performances from Alan Arkin, Joan Cusack, Jeremy Piven and Aykroyd. The film pokes fun at the loner tough guy hero featured in so many Hollywood movies. At the time of its release the story was a little unusual but Mr and Mrs Smith has since explored similar territory of rich cosmopolitan assassins trying to blend into ordinary American life.
Blank spends most of the movie in pursuit of Debi. Will she forgive him? Will he have time to complete his assignment? This is my idea of a great movie. It's funny and clever and the characters are flawed but likable.