Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

Director:

George Armitage

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | 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 | Suburb | High School Reunion

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
Ann Cusack	...	Amy
D.V. DeVincentis	...	Dan Koretzky
Barbara Harris	...	Mary Blank
Wendy Thorlakson	...	Melanie the Waitress
Belita Moreno	...	Mrs. Kinetta
Patrick O'Neill	...	Nathaniel (as Pat O'Neill)
Jenna Elfman	...	Tanya
Steve Pink	...	Terry Rostand
K.K. Dodds	...	Tracy
Bill Cusack	...	Waiter
Traci Dority	...	Jenny Slater
Doug Dearth	...	Eckhart
Colby French	...	Bartender
Brent Armitage	...	Cosmo
Jackie Rubin	...	Marie
Sarah DeVincentis	...	Dr. Oatman's Patient
Eva Rodriguez	...	Nurse
David Barrett	...	Bicycle Messenger
Bobby Bass	...	Assassin #1
Lance Gilbert	...	Assassin #2
Pete Antico	...	Assassin #3
Laurence Bilzerian	...	Assassin #4
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Phil Aslaksen	...	Student (uncredited)
Karmyn Tyler	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
George Armitage

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Jankiewicz		(story)
Tom Jankiewicz		(screenplay) and
D.V. DeVincentis		(screenplay) &
Steve Pink		(screenplay) &
John Cusack		(screenplay)

Produced by
Brent Armitage	....	associate producer
Susan Arnold	....	producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	producer
John Cusack	....	co-producer
Jonathan Glickman	....	executive producer
Steve Pink	....	co-producer
Donna Roth	....	producer (as Donna Arkoff Roth)
Jackie Rubin	....	associate producer
Lata Ryan	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Jamie Anderson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Brian Berdan

Casting by
Junie Lowry-Johnson		(as Junie Lowry Johnson)
Ron Surma

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Scott Meehan

Set Decoration by
Chris L. Spellman		(as Chris Spellman)

Costume Design by
Eugenie Bafaloukos

Makeup Department
Colleen Callaghan	....	hair stylist
Todd Masterson	....	prosthetic makeup effects designer
Cindy J. Williams	....	makeup artist (as Cindy Jane Williams)

Production Management
Steven Brown	....	unit production manager
Pat Rand	....	post-production manager: Caravan Pictures

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Altman	....	second unit director
Marcei A. Brown	....	second assistant director (as Marcei A. Brubaker)
Tom Carleton	....	first assistant director: second unit
Evan Gilner	....	second second assistant director
Josh King	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Matthew R. Altman	....	on-set dresser (as Matthew Altman)
Aneikit Bonnel	....	art department coordinator
Anthony Maccario	....	property master
Michael Reinhart	....	construction coordinator
Tim Snowber	....	leadman
R. Lucas Stewart	....	construction foreman
Thomas R. Wagner	....	assistant property master (as Thomas Geraci-Wagner)
Cliff Carothers	....	general foreman construction (uncredited)
Bryan Corbett	....	foreman (uncredited)
Beth Emerson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ted Haigh	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Timothy O'Brien	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Fred O'Connor	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Tim Park	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Fred Seibly	....	sign supervisor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Benjamin Beardwood	....	dialogue editor
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Dean Drabin	....	foley mixer
Joe Earle	....	sound effects editor (as Joseph Earle)
Eric Erickson	....	adr editor
Eric Erickson	....	foley editor
Mark C. Grech	....	cable person (as Mark Grech)
Ann Hadsell	....	adr recordist
Sarah Hammond	....	foley walker
David Hankins	....	supervising sound editor
Robin Harlan	....	foley walker
James Hebenstreit	....	adr editor (as James B. Hebenstreit)
James Hebenstreit	....	foley editor (as James B. Hebenstreit)
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randall Johnson)
Mark Kamps	....	assistant sound editor
Gary Lewis	....	dialogue editor
Myron Nettinga	....	sound effects editor
Ralph Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Art Rochester	....	sound mixer (as Arthur Rochester)
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor
Frank Wolf	....	sound engineer
Eric J. Goldstein	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Paul Hickerson	....	special effects foreman
Ron Trost	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Steven Davis	....	computer graphics (as Steve Davis)
John C. Bush	....	computer graphic artist (uncredited)
Michael Curtis	....	digital trailer effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Jeff Brockton	....	stunts
William H. Burton Jr.	....	stunts (as William Burton Jr.)
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Jeff Dashnaw)
Lisa Dempsey	....	stunts
Eddy Donno	....	stunts
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts (as Richard Ellis)
Tom Harper	....	stunts
Greg Harris	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as William H. Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Kevin L. Jackson	....	stunts (as Kevin Jackson)
Anthony Kleeman	....	stunts
Stacy Logan	....	stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronnie Rondell)
David Welch	....	stunts
David Barrett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Christian J. Fletcher	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill H. Schwocho	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Benny Urquidez	....	fight coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael J. Bailey	....	best boy electric (as Michael Bailey)
Greg Banta	....	electrician
Ken Berkhout	....	electrician
Randy Berrett	....	grip
Tom Campau	....	camera operator: second unit
Billy Clevenger	....	first assistant camera
James D. Doherty	....	best boy grip (as James Doherty)
Daniel Duggan	....	grip (as Danny Duggan)
Jimmy Ferguson	....	loader
Jay Galbo	....	electrician
Carlos M. Gallardo	....	dolly grip (as Carlos 'Coco' Gallardo)
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	still photographer
Conrad W. Hall	....	camera operator
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
John Haskell	....	electrician
John Layne	....	electrician
Ted Lewis	....	grip
Karl Linde	....	second assistant camera
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	video supervisor (as Robert Morgenroth)
David Morton	....	gaffer (as Dave Morton)
Peter Wagner	....	key grip
Jay M. Huntoon	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
David Katz	....	video assist operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Justine Baddeley	....	casting assistant
Libby Goldstein	....	casting assistant
Kathy Mooney	....	extras casting (as Kathy Mooney-Ellis)
Dixie Webster	....	extras casting (as Dixie Webster-Davis)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adrienne Childers	....	costumer
Maurice Palinski	....	costumer
Scheris Shephard	....	costumer
Barcie Waite	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Joanne Abrams	....	post-production associate
Marisa Johnston	....	post-production coordinator: Caravan Pictures
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Blake Maniquis	....	first assistant editor
Alan Z. McCurdy	....	second assistant editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Blake Danforth	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music consultant
Brian Carrigan	....	score consultant
D.V. DeVincentis	....	music consultant
Chris Douridas	....	music consultant
Parker Logan	....	assistant music editor
Jill Meyers	....	music clearance
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Sharlotte Blake	....	soundtrack executive producer: London Records (uncredited)
Bryan Carrigan	....	music programmer (uncredited)
Bryan Carrigan	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)
Elvis Costello	....	song producer (uncredited)
Michael Fey	....	music executive (uncredited)

Transportation Department
William Ballard	....	transportation captain (as Bill Ballard)
Dan Dengel	....	transportation coordinator: second unit
Gary Shephard	....	transportation coordinator
Larry Shephard	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Joanne Abrams	....	production secretary
Samuel F. Arroyo	....	craft service
Gerard Averill	....	assistant location manager
Scott Bartolick	....	helicopter operator: second unit
Ralph Coleman	....	location manager
Graham Cousens	....	production assistant: second unit (as Graham Cousins)
Deirdre De Tappan	....	production coordinator: Caravan Pictures
Doug Dearth	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Doris Donnenberg	....	assistant production coordinator
Ned Dowd	....	head of production: Caravan Pictures
Aaron Greene	....	assistant: Mr. Armitage
Walter Horne Jr.	....	production associate
Kimberly Jones-Clark	....	second assistant accountant
Jessica Krekorian	....	assistant: Roth/Arnold
David Krieger	....	production assistant: second unit
Joe Lafata	....	production assistant: second unit
Karen Laverty	....	assistant: Mr. Armitage
Stevie Lazo	....	production accountant
Cricky Long	....	production associate
Kelly Malone	....	stand-in
Alex McClain	....	production associate
Brian Powell	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Kelly Richards Ralston	....	first assistant accountant
Huey Redwine	....	stand-in
Anne S. Reilly	....	unit publicist
Woody Schultz	....	production associate
Bill H. Schwocho	....	stand-in
Robert Sharman	....	video coordinator
Kerry Shea	....	production coordinator
Laura Simmons	....	set medic
Julie Stuppler	....	assistant: Mr. Glickman, Caravan Pictures
Cathy Thomas	....	location manager: second unit
Lisa Thomas	....	payroll accountant
Dennis Thorlaksen	....	production associate (as Denny Thorlakson)
Barbara Tuss	....	script supervisor
Marlena Wilkens	....	assistant: Mr. Birnbaum, Caravan Pictures
Nellie Adami	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas de Wolff	....	acting coach (uncredited)
Gary Ferraro	....	caterer (uncredited)
Jack E. Herman	....	extras set coordinator (uncredited)
Michael Parks	....	location manager (uncredited)
Connie Wang	....	assistant script clearance administrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hollywood Pictures (presents)
• Caravan Pictures (in association with)
• New Crime Productions (in assocation with)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1997) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Gativideo (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• CIS Hollywood (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• E=mc²  computer/24-frame video effects provided by
• Eastman Film  produced and distributed on
• For Stars Catering  catering
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr voice casting (as L.A. Maddogs)
• London Records  soundtrack
• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Todd-AO Studios  post-production mixing (as Todd-AO)
• Todd-AO Studios  sound editing

Also Known As:

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 (British Columbia) | Canada:14A (Ontario) (video rating: 2004) | 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:

There are several Bond movie references, including the attempted poisoning by string (You Only Live Twice (1967)), and the Guns N Roses version of the theme from Live and Let Die (1973) which Martin listens to just before enters the Ultimart for the first time (when he enters the Ultimart it changes to a Muzak version of Live and Let Die that picks up exactly where G&R left off). There are also references to Goldfinger (1964)

Goofs:

Continuity: Martin is shown entering the Ultimart convenience store twice.

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 Runaway Jury (2003)

Soundtrack:

The Killing Moon

Firing Blanks & a little romance

I love this film! Starring John Cusack, England's patriotically-named Minnie Driver, plus Dan Ackroyd, Alan Arkin & Joan Cusack, ‘Grosse Pointe Blank' is funny, clever, action-packed & has a great ‘eighties soundtrack.

John Cusack - as the film's protagonist Martin Blank - is superb, & virtually carries the whole movie. He plays an assassin who started out working for the U.S. Government but has now gone freelance, having managed to rationalise his cold-blooded killing. He is an amoral, sharp, ruthless killer, but also vulnerably human, neurotic, conscience-ridden, tender & romantic. Despite these ostensibly impossible personality contradictions, you never once question that his character is real, you can't help but like the guy, & never stop hoping that things work out for him. Pulling this off is a remarkable achievement & Cusack does it brilliantly.

He reluctantly accepts a commission that takes him back to his hometown, Grosse Pointe, coincidentally at exactly the same time as his old High School reunion. While there he visits his childhood sweetheart, local DJ Debi (Driver), for the first time in 10 years – when in a fit of madness he had ditched her on their prom night to run off & join the army. As neither she nor anyone else had heard anything from him since then, her feelings about this are understandably rather mixed!

Blank visits his institutionalised Mum & the family home, which to his great distress is now an ‘Ultimart', & eventually convinces Debi to go with him to the reunion. His reacquaintances with his former schoolmates are very funny & even quite touching, & are sure to strike a chord with anyone who's ever been to one of those things.

Meanwhile various other assassins, chief of which is Blank's rival Grocer (Ackroyd – brilliant as ever) are out to kill him. Their reasons are many & varied – mainly involving an ‘Assassin's union', secret Government operations & a dead dog (yes, really!). As you can probably guess, these are not the sort of things that are conducive to a successful High School reunion, & mayhem ensues.

‘Grosse Pointe Blank' is extremely funny, full of deadpan, twisted humour - mainly from Cusack, but ably supported by Ackroyd & Arkin. I particularly liked the running gag of Blank's response to the inevitable "what do you do for a living?" question: a completely matter-of-fact "professional killer", which of course not one person takes seriously. I also loved the hilariously neurotic exchanges between Blank & his hounded shrink (Arkin), who ends every conversation with "Don't kill anyone!" There's also a lovely little story involving a pen...

The film is also a great action flick - it has some brilliantly choreographed & executed gunfight & hand-to-hand fight sequences – in fact some of the best I've ever seen. Cusack looks, or at least is made to look, like a pretty decent athlete himself. The finale is a real tour-de-force, & for me sums up the movie itself: a great gunfight, clever & hilariously funny.

This film is wonderful from start to finish – if you haven't done so already, see it now!