Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

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 Armitage

Writers:

Tom Jankiewicz (story), Tom Jankiewicz (screenplay)

Stars:

John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Mitchell Ryan	...	Mr. Bart Newberry
Michael Cudlitz	...	Bob Destepello
Benny Urquidez	...	Felix La PuBelle
Duffy Taylor	...	Ultimart Carl
Audrey Kissel	...	Arlene
Carlos Jacott	...	Ken
Brian Powell	...	Husky Man

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."

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Plot Keywords:

assassin | reunion | suburb | high school reunion | high school | 

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Taglines:

Even A Hit Man Deserves A Second Shot!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language and some drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Plaćenik

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$6,870,397 (USA) (11 April 1997)

Gross:

$28,014,536 (USA) (8 August 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures, New Crime Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Goofs

Grocer (Dan Aykroyd) can be seen breathing long after he is supposed to be dead by electrocution from having a TV smashed over his head.

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Quotes

Mr. Newberry: Design Division wants me dead over a leaky sunroof and you want to kill me because of *that*?
Martin Q. Blank: It's *not* me! Why does everyone always think it's personal?

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Connections

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

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Soundtracks

99 Luftballons
Written by Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen (as Joern-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Peterson) and Karlo Carges (as Carlo Karges)
Performed by Nena
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Great Movie

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.