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Safe Men
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Safe Men (1998) -- Two untalented singers (Sam Rockwell, Steve Zahn) are mistaken for a pair of major league safecrackers in Providence, Rhode Island. The two are pressed into service by hoodlums and quickly find themselves in conflict with their professional colleagues.

Overview

User Rating:
5.9/10   1,547 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 13% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Hamburg
Writer (WGA):
John Hamburg (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Safe Men on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 August 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Crime more
Tagline:
Welcome to the world of disorganised crime.
Plot:
Two untalented singers are mistaken for a pair of major league safe crackers in Providence, Rhode Island... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(11 articles)
HuffPost Review: Moon
 (From Huffington Post. 10 June 2009, 12:58 PM, PDT)

The Motion/Captured Review: "I Love You, Man"
 (From Hitfix. 20 March 2009, 8:00 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Affectionate Ode to the Deluded Loser more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sam Rockwell ... Sam

Steve Zahn ... Eddie

Michael Lerner ... Big Fat Bernie Gayle

Paul Giamatti ... Veal Chop
Michael Schmidt ... Bernie Jr.

Christina Kirk ... Hannah

Mark Ruffalo ... Frank

Josh Pais ... Mitchell

Harvey Fierstein ... Leo
Michael Showalter ... Larry
John Hamburg ... Philip
Raymond Serra ... Barber

Ray Iannicelli ... Swoop
Ali Marsh ... Sherry

Jacob Reynolds ... Ira
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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language.
Runtime:
88 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
Iceland:L | France:U | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:T | USA:R

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director John Hamburg and actor Michael Showalter were college roommates. more
Quotes:
Veal Chop: By the time I get home, flip on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, I'm looking at 36 thousand of his hard earned female deer more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter John Hamburg (2006) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 16 people found the following comment useful:-
Affectionate Ode to the Deluded Loser, 23 February 2004

When a movie has so much good natured humor and generally a lot of heart one can forgive anything. While it has extremely low production values and obviously made on an equally low budget, the sheer fun of it all makes this a movie that many have great affection for.

Sam Rockwell's well proven off kilter charm is used to great effect. He's paired beautifully with Steve Zahn as the pitiful singing duo coerced into a life of crime. They are supported by a number of equally engaging characters such as Michael Lerner's overbearing Jewish mobster, Mark Ruffalo's soft hearted safe cracker and best of all Paul Giamatti's "Veal Chop". Giamatti is hilarious as well as touching as the mobster's incapable lackey.

"Safe Men" is an affectionate ode to deluded losers. These characters are losers simply because they are desperately trying to be something they are clearly not cut out for. They are basically a bunch of good guys on the wrong track. Lerner's gangster threatens all sorts of mean acts, but ultimately just wants to give a big hug to all. Zahn's character has a strong inkling something is amiss when after years of trying to hit the big time they are playing to a very silent senior citizen audience. Rockwell, the king of deluded losers, tries to placate him with the explanation that it's a Polish custom to show appreciation by remaining silent.

Maybe it appeals to the delusions that most of us at some point or another are subject to. Whatever; this may be a small, slight movie, but its an immensely enjoyable one.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Safe Men (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
On Hulu jpowers16-1
favorite bits? lanceupright
Please put 'Safe Men' on DVD!!! stuporfly
song help? neillymcd
Sam sings The Walk of Life MinnieBegosh
Exploding Slacks... philgregguk
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