All About the Benjamins (2002)

Director:

Kevin Bray

Writers (WGA):

Ronald Lang (written by) and
Ice Cube (written by)

Release Date:

8 March 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Money can make people do funny things.

Plot:

A bounty hunter is on the trail of a conman who skipped bail. The two wind up in a deserted warehouse where they witness a diamond scam in action...

Plot Keywords:

Bounty Hunter | Diamond | Champagne | Lottery | Shot In The Head

Cast

Ice Cube	...	Bucum
Mike Epps	...	Reggie (as Michael Epps)
Tommy Flanagan	...	Williamson
Carmen Chaplin	...	Ursula
Eva Mendes	...	Gina
Valarie Rae Miller	...	Pam
Anthony Giaimo	...	Martinez
Jeff Chase	...	Mango
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Julian Ramose
Gino Salvano	...	Mickey
Tony Ward	...	TJ
Dominic Chianese Jr.	...	Roscoe
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Lil J
Antoni Corone	...	Captain Briggs (as Antoni Cornacchione)
Bob Carter	...	Mr. Barkley
Evelyn Brooks	...	Ms. Steinberg
Joan Turner	...	Ms. Scharfenberg
Julianne Beres	...	Sharhari (as Julie Ann Beres)
Bow Wow	...	Kelly (as Lil Bow Wow)
Robert MacBeth	...	Store Owner
Barbara Barron	...	Mrs. Barkley
Oscar Isaac	...	Francesco
Jodi Lyn Brockton	...	Lil J's Girlfriend (as Jodi Wilson)
Allen Choate	...	Newsstand Attendant
Marianna Astakhova	...	Customer
Kevin Bray	...	Criminal
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Aldane'e	...	Crime Scene Analyst (uncredited)
Trish Dempsey	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Deborah Smith Ford	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Bernie Hourihan	...	Yacht Buyer (uncredited)
Trae Ireland	...	Drug Store Patron / Beach Comber (uncredited)
Kitty Kavey	...	Beach Comber (uncredited)
Al Quinn	...	Beach Comber (uncredited)
Ethan S. Smith	...	Drug Store Patron (uncredited)
Dee Tew	...	Beach Comber (uncredited)
Jean Volmy	...	Prison Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
Kevin Bray

Writing credits (WGA)
Ronald Lang		(written by) and
Ice Cube		(written by)

Produced by
Matt Alvarez	....	producer
Ice Cube	....	producer
Douglas Curtis	....	co-producer
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Mike Epps	....	co-executive producer
Ronald Lang	....	executive producer
Matt Moore	....	executive producer
Ronald G. Muhammad	....	associate producer (as Ron Muhammad)
Claire Rudnick Polstein	....	executive producer
Lamont Cain	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Murphy

Cinematography by
Glen MacPherson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Suzanne Hines

Casting by
Felicia Fasano
Anne McCarthy
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
J. Mark Harrington

Set Decoration by
Barbara Peterson-Malesci		(as Barbara Peterson)

Costume Design by
Sophie De Rakoff		(as Sophie de Rakoff Carbonell)

Makeup Department
L. Sher Williams	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Jay Vinitsky	....	post-production supervisor
David Witz	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wendi Lampassi	....	second assistant director
Artie Malesci	....	second unit director
John Nelson	....	first assistant director
Karen Radzikowski	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Rod England	....	key set dresser
Stephen I. Erdberg	....	assistant property master
Hector M. Gonzalez	....	buyer (as Héctor M. González)
Charles Guanci Jr.	....	prop master
Richard E. Kruder	....	set dresser
Alexa Marino	....	art department coordinator
Ben Wolcott	....	on-set dresser
Bill Wright	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer
Peter Bergren	....	stage sound effects editor
Susan Cahill	....	assistant sound editor
Kevin Cerchiai	....	boom operator
Jed M. Dodge	....	dialogue editor
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Tom Hohmann	....	cable person
Frederick Howard	....	sound designer
Robert Jackson	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Kamper	....	sound effects editor
Michael Mullane	....	sound editor
Nick Neutra	....	foley mixer
Quinton Nixon	....	assistant adr engineer
Melissa Sherwood Hofmann	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
Mark Weber	....	sound mixer
James Bailey	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ken Gorrell	....	special effects technician
James L. Roberts	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor
Gregory Creaser	....	digital timing supervisor
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
L. Elizabeth Powers	....	digital compositor (as Laurie Powers)
Brennan Prevatt	....	main title designer
Janet Quen	....	digital effects artist: main title
Christopher Grandel	....	trailer digital effects, Howard Anderson Company (uncredited)
Edward Helmers	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Alexis Bahr	....	stunts
Tom Bahr	....	stunts
Chick Bernhardt	....	stunts (as Chick Dale Bernhardt)
Bradley Bowman	....	stunts
Nick Brandon	....	stunts
Butch Brickell	....	stunts (as Butch Bricell)
Ricou Browning Jr.	....	stunts (as Ricou Browning)
James M. Churchman	....	stunts (as Jim Churchman)
Stacy Courtney	....	stunts
Danelle Folta	....	stunts (as Danelle Folta Kenealy)
Denise Gallo	....	stunts
Henry Gilbert	....	stunts
Mike Kirton	....	stunts
David S. Lomax	....	stunts (as David Lomax)
Artie Malesci	....	stunt coordinator
Sam Maloof	....	stunts
Keifus Mathews	....	stunts
Richard Mihalek	....	stunts
Janine Mitchell	....	stunt performer
Jeff Moldovan	....	stunts
Tony Perez	....	stunts
Kiana Politis	....	stunts
J.C. Robaina	....	stunts
Felipe Savahge	....	stunts
Luis J. Silva	....	stunts (as Luis Silva)
Erik Solky	....	stunts (as Eric M. Solky)
Tommy Mack Turvey	....	stunts (as Tom Turvey)
Tom Waite	....	stunt double: Anthony Michael Hall

Camera and Electrical Department
Kurt Beckler	....	grip
Tracy Bennett	....	still photographer
Benjamin Centoducati	....	photographer
Julian Chojnacki	....	camera operator
Marvin Lee	....	second assistant camera: additional camera
Artie Malesci	....	director of photography: second unit
Bill McConnell Jr.	....	second assistant: second unit
Mike McGowan	....	camera operator: Hypercam
T. Michael McLean	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Sean Meyer	....	grip
Marty Mullin	....	director of photography: second unit
Gary Ryan	....	gaffer
Alberto Saad	....	video assist operator
Fred Valentine	....	best boy
Fred Valentine	....	rigging gaffer
Anthony Zibelli	....	assistant camera
Andrew Fisher	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lori Wyman	....	casting: Florida
Beanie Barnes	....	casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jody Felz	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Matt Evans	....	assistant editor
Yoshie Ishiguro	....	assistant editor
Harry Muller	....	color timer
Kevin Soares	....	post-production assistant
Michael A. Webber	....	assistant editor
David Waco	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Spring Aspers	....	music supervisor
Bob Bowen	....	music executive
Todd Bozung	....	preview music editor
Simon Denny	....	score recordist
Daniel L. Griffiths	....	score mix engineer
Tom Harriman	....	composer: additional music
Terry Wilson	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ben Coney	....	driver: Ice Cube

Other crew
Josue Aguilar	....	set production assistant
Mike Alberts	....	key set production assistant
Danielle J. Baker	....	location production assistant (as Danielle Baker)
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Nadia Barker	....	assistant: Kevin Bray
Paul Barth	....	helicopter pilot
Christian Beyer	....	assistant location manager: second unit
Steve Dale	....	set production assistant: second unit (as Steve 'Steve O' Dale)
Rita Duffey	....	assistant location manager (as Rita Duffey-Hallebo)
Stan Eutsey	....	set production assistant
Patrick Fox	....	set production assistant: second unit
Debby Freeman	....	assistant production coordinator
Marcienne Friesland	....	assistant: Kevin Bray
Christian Froude	....	second assistant accountant
Denise Gallo	....	assistant: Mr. Malesci
Emily Glatter	....	supervising production coordinator
Carol Green	....	unit publicist
John Hayes Jr.	....	assistant: Matt Alvarez
Scott Kanyuck	....	production attorney
John Brian King	....	title designer: main title sequence (as Brian King)
Jana Lundy	....	production secretary
Lisa L. Martin	....	production office assistant (as Lisa Martin)
Andrew Matthews	....	financial advisor
Mack McKelvey	....	craft service assistant
Ilene Pickus	....	script supervisor: second unit
Marlis Pujol	....	production coordinator
Terri Rainha	....	assistant to line producer (as Terri Carlson)
Steven John Reynolds	....	post-production accountant (as Steve Reynolds)
Misha Rudolph	....	assistant: Kevin Bray
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Robert Shapiro	....	production accountant
Frederick Shear	....	production office assistant
Leah Sokolowsky	....	location manager
Tim Turner	....	first assistant accountant
Gwynneth Varner	....	accounting assistant
Corey B. Yugler	....	script supervisor (as Corey Yugler)

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema (presents)
• Cube Vision
• Flipside Entertainment
• Linovo Productions GmbH & Co. KG

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2002) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Humax Pictures (2002) (Japan) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2002) (Japan) (all media)
• New Line Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL7) (first national airing)
• United Paramount Network (UPN) (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects

Other Companies

• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering

Also Known As:

"Good Boys" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language and brief sexuality

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:MA | Germany:18 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #38559) | Philippines:R-18 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Florida, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Goofs:

Continuity: During the Impala and Mercedes chase, the Mercedes has no tints. Then Reggie shoots out the back window. When the Mercedes arrives at the docks the windows are tinted and the back window is intact.

Quotes:

Bucum:Reggie, I love you. But I gotta take you in!
Reggie:Come on, man!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Strictly Business: Making 'All About the Benjamins' (2002) (V)

Soundtrack:

Da Rockwilder

It's all about the clichés, explosions, and mere originality as well

Though it may appear as a Friday style film, All About the Benjamins is far from the comedy franchise as possible. Instead of being a slacker, buddy comedy, it's an action cop film similar to 48 Hours or Beverly Hills Cop. It isn't necessarily bad, but it takes a path I didn't expect. How could you blame me for mistaking it was a straight forward comedy? It's in a four pack that includes all Ice Cube movies, and it stars Mike Epps as well. The same characters that portrayed Craig and Dey Dey are in a movie that is included in a Friday four pack. Can't be that far off.

Sadly, it takes the path and cliché of every cop movie out there. There's explosions, swearing, two friends, etc. It gets old very fast. There's not much new or fresh utilized here. If there is a low six star movie rating, this is the one. It's not a five star film, but it's not a seven or eight star film. It's kind of tilting on the edge.

Bucum (Cube) is a bounty hunter who's goal is to get money to open his own investigation firm. Reggie (Epps) is a con artist that somehow escaped Bucum's clutches three times. After winning big on the lottery, but losing the ticket in the back of a van with diamonds thieves, Bucum and Reggie have no choice but to work together to get the thieves and retrieve the lottery ticket so Reggie can claim his riches.

It reminds me of a film I watched not too long ago called Lottery Ticket that also stars Cube, about a young man trying to survive a weekend with a $370 million lottery ticket the whole neighborhood is aware of. The only difference is the ticket never leaves the man's possession. In this one they need to get it back.

The film has frequent chases and action moments, but I find them unappealing and just a little much. I would have liked less of the over exaggerated, played out action sequences and more of the witty dialog. Ice Cube and Mike Epps made a great duo in Next Friday and Friday After Next, and had numerous dialog scenes in the film that were utterly hilarious and clever. This film relies too much on action movie clichés, and a drawn out plot. You know they'll retrieve the ticket, and most likely fight towards the end. The suspense is none.

You may say it's my fault for comparing the film too much to Friday, but I'm not analyzing the film based on my first impression. I'm grading on behalf of the film's plot, characters action scenes, and suspense. The film had everyone of those in decent context. But so decent they were forgettable.

Starring: Ice Cube, Mike Epps, Eva Mendes, Tommy Flanagan, Carmen Chaplin, Valarie Rae Miller, Roger Guenveur Smith, and Anthony Michael Hall. Directed by: Kevin Bray.