The Man (2005)

Director:

Les Mayfield

Writers (WGA):

Jim Piddock (screenplay) &
Margaret Oberman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

One guy walks the walk. The other talks and talks.

Plot:

Special Agent Derrick Vann is a man out to get the man who killed his partner but a case of mistaken identity leads him to Andy Fidler, a salesman with too many questions and a knack of getting in Vanns way.

Plot Keywords:

Mistaken Identity | Salesman | Criminal | Car Chase | Gun Smuggling

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Derrick Vann
Eugene Levy	...	Andy Fiddler
Miguel Ferrer	...	Agent Peters
Luke Goss	...	Joey Kane
Susie Essman	...	Lt. Rita Carbone
Anthony Mackie	...	Booty
Gigi Rice	...	Susan
Rachael Crawford	...	Dara Vann
Philip Akin	...	Second I.A. Agent
Christopher Murray	...	Homeless Man
Joel S. Keller	...	Laptop Guy (as Joel Keller)
John Hemphill	...	Ted
Kathryn Greenwood	...	Flight Attendant
Carrie Cain-Sparks	...	Big Kim (as Carrie Cain Sparks)
George Ghali	...	Cab Driver
Leni Parker	...	Cashier
Matt Cooke	...	Uniform Cop on PA
Joe Sacco	...	Rookie
Neville Edwards	...	Tall Agent
Scott Wickware	...	Booking Officer
Tomorrow Baldwin Montgomery	...	Kate Vann
Geoffrey Bowes	...	Phone Agent (as Geoff Bowes)
Randy Butcher	...	Guard
Jessica Kelly	...	Female Prisoner
Eldridge Hyndman	...	Muscular Prisoner
Peter Oldring	...	Young Guard
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Mark (as Leonard Thomas)
Maxwell McCabe-Lokos	...	Pinto Driver (as Max McCabe)
Frank Spadone	...	Conventioneer
Andrew Stelmack	...	Conventioneer
Gordon Bolan	...	Conventioneer
Jeff J.J. Authors	...	Waiter (as J.J. Authors)
Toby Proctor	...	Cavity Search Guard
Peter Kosaka	...	Asian Man
Beatriz Yuste	...	Nun
Jackie Laidlaw	...	Nun
Dina Pino	...	Nun
Patricia Brown	...	Nun
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lindsay Ames	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Michael Cameron	...	IA Driver (uncredited)
Kevin Rushton	...	Thug (uncredited)
Horatio Sanz	...	Santos (uncredited)
Nestor Serrano	...	Manuel "Manny" Cortez (uncredited)

Directed by
Les Mayfield

Writing credits (WGA)
Jim Piddock		(screenplay) &
Margaret Oberman		(screenplay) and
Stephen Carpenter		(screenplay) (as Steve Carpenter)
Jim Piddock		(story) &
Margaret Oberman		(story)

Produced by
Kent Alterman	....	executive producer
Brian Campbell	....	line producer: additional photography
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
Robert N. Fried	....	producer (as Rob Fried)
Keith Goldberg	....	associate producer
Mathew Hart	....	executive producer
Bill Straus	....	co-producer
Tim Van Rellim	....	line producer: additional photography
Michele Weiss	....	associate producer

Original Music by
John Murphy

Cinematography by
Adam Kane

Film Editing by
Peter Fandetti
Jeffrey Wolf

Casting by
Sig De Miguel
Amanda Mackey Johnson
Cathy Sandrich
Wendy Weidman

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
James McAteer

Set Decoration by
Peter P. Nicolakakos

Costume Design by
Delphine White

Makeup Department
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist: Mr. Jackson
Judi Cooper-Sealy	....	hair department head
Sylvain Cournoyer	....	makeup department head
Cathy Shibley	....	key hair stylist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist: Mr. Jackson
Megan Tanner	....	hair stylist: Luke Goss
Megan Tanner	....	makeup artist: Luke Goss
Lianne Turturici	....	key makeup artist (as Lianne Turturci)
Julia Valente	....	assistant makeup artist
Victoria Wood	....	wigs: Sam Jackson

Production Management
Armand Leo	....	unit production manager
Frank Salvino	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff J.J. Authors	....	first assistant director (as J.J. Authors)
Tyler Delben	....	third assistant director
Beau Ferris	....	trainee assistant director
Walter Lawlor	....	trainee assistant director
Nick Lopez	....	assistant director
Elizabeth Parker	....	third assistant director
Elizabeth Parker	....	trainee assistant director
Eric S. Potechin	....	second assistant director
John Stoneham Jr.	....	second unit director
Jodi A. Tario	....	assistant director
David Vaughan	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
John Bannister	....	key scenic artist
Deryck Blake	....	property master
David Coronella	....	leadman
David DeMarinis	....	assistant decorator
Danielle Fleury	....	assistant set decorator
Summer Gaal	....	set dresser
J. Ryan Halpenny	....	assistant art director
Al Hobbs	....	set designer
Jae Pak	....	assistant art director
David Ritchie	....	second on-set dresser
Nathan A. Smith	....	set dresser
Martin Weinryb	....	set decoration buyer

Sound Department
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
JuliAnne Bonnett	....	transfer assistant
Thomas Brandau	....	production sound mixer: Los Angeles
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist
Bruce Carwardine	....	sound mixer
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ross Deane	....	boom operator: reshoots
Victor Ray Ennis	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital audio assistant
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Nerses Gezalyan	....	sound mixer
Mark Harris	....	sound recordist
Zach Hunter	....	second boom operator
Daniel S. Irwin	....	adr & dialogue editor
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kenneth L. Johnson	....	sound editor
Michael Kamper	....	sound effects editor
Randy Kelley	....	sound editor
Ryan Murphy	....	sound recordist
Tom Ozanich	....	sound effects editor
Mark P. Stoeckinger	....	supervising sound editor
Lisa Varetakis	....	adr editor
Lisa Varetakis	....	dialogue editor
Markus Wade	....	boom operator
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
David Yonson	....	adr mixer: Toronto

Special Effects by
Matt Corrigan	....	special effects technician
Kaz Kobielski	....	special effects coordinator
Mark Rice	....	special effects supervisor
Dean Stewart	....	special effects office administrator
Paul Vernon	....	special effects props builder

Visual Effects by
Krista Allain	....	visual effects coordinator: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O
Thomas R. Bryant	....	visual effects editor
Steve Caldwell	....	digital compositor
Keith Cooper	....	3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Jon Cowley	....	3D supervisor: Intelligent Creatures
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects supervisor
Peter Dydo	....	3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Michele Ferrone	....	visual effects producer
Raymond Gieringer	....	visual effects supervisor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Jamie Hallett	....	senior digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
R.J. Harbour	....	digital compositor
Michael Hatton	....	visual effects technical advisor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Shaina Holmes	....	lead compositor
Nicholas Kim	....	digital compositor
Nicholas Kim	....	title designer
Lev Kolobov	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Jason Kolodziejczak	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Wendy Lanning	....	visual effects producer: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Danny Lee	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Laurence Lok	....	digital compositor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Jason Maher	....	3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Lori C. Miller	....	digital compositor
Lon Molnar	....	visual effects creative advisor: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Lillani E. Moran	....	visual effects coordinator
L. Elizabeth Powers	....	digital compositor (as Laurie Powers)
Darcy Reno	....	systems administrator (as Darcy Bangsund)
Mark Sawicki	....	blue screen consultant
Leonardo Silva	....	3D artist: Intelligent Creatures Inc.
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Matt Birman	....	stunt performer
Tommy Chang	....	stunts
Shelley Cook	....	stunts
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt performer
Darren Marsman	....	stunt driver
Regan Moore	....	stunt performer
Regan Moore	....	stunt rigger
Layton Morrison	....	stunt performer
Billy Oliver	....	stunt performer
Chris Palermo	....	stunts
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunt performer
Robert Racki	....	stunts
Rex Reddick	....	stunt coordinator
Scotty Richards	....	precision driving coordinator (as Scott Richards)
John Stead	....	stunt performer
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Bryan Thomas	....	stunts
Marcus Young	....	stunts
Ryan Happy	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Alexander	....	focus puller: additional photography
Richard Allen	....	gaffer: second unit
Kevin Barnes	....	electrician
David Breeze	....	gaffer
Elizabeth Caruana	....	assistant camera: dailies
Jeffrey Cassidy	....	digital video assist operator
Joe Chouchanian	....	grip: additional photography
Michael Decina	....	key rigging grip
Andrew Dumas	....	second assistant camera: additional unit
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: additional principal photography
William Engel	....	grip
William Engel	....	rigging grip
Ava Gerlitz	....	still photographer
Mark Hryma	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Alan Jacoby	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Patrick King	....	dolly operator
Clyde Miller	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Clyde Miller	....	first assistant camera: aerial unit
Mark Willis	....	camera operator: "a" camera

Casting Department
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting: Los Angeles
Donna Dupere	....	extras casting
Samantha Finkler	....	casting assistant
Brad Gerstl	....	extras casting representative
Sara Kay	....	casting associate: Toronto
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
Aaron Unrau	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Askia Won-Ling Jacob	....	costumer: Mr. Jackson
Marcia Scott	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Peter Fandetti	....	associate editor
Daniel Kupresan	....	assistant editor
Aaron Marshall	....	assistant editor
David McGroarty	....	assistant editor
Sandy Pereira	....	trainee assistant editor
Nicole Sears	....	editorial production assistant

Music Department
Brent Arrowood	....	score assistant engineer
Tyler Barton	....	additional score engineering
Gustavo Borner	....	scoring mixer
Stephen Coleman	....	conductor
Stephen Coleman	....	orchestrator
Scott Conrad	....	assistant score mixer
Robin Joseph	....	music clearances
Tom Kramer	....	music editor
Kory Kruckenberg	....	scoring assistant engineer
Peymon Maskan	....	music coordinator
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
David Sabee	....	orchestra contractor
Dana Sano	....	music supervisor
Erin Scully	....	music executive

Transportation Department
Tim Fagan	....	driver: honeywagon
Dana Howes	....	transportation coordinator
Glenn Hughes	....	picture car co-captain
Wayne Ireland	....	picture car captain
Wayne Williams	....	transportation coordinator: Los Angeles reshoots

Other crew
Samantha Armstrong	....	script supervisor
Lorrie Barth	....	second assistant accountant
Mark Bashian	....	production assistant
Michael Bederman	....	production accountant
Dana Belcastro	....	production executive
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	armorer
Stephanie Lee Berger	....	weapons handler
Matt Brutocao	....	assistant: Mr. Fried and Mr. Mayfield, Los Angeles
Aloura Melissa Charles	....	production assistant
Jas Chima	....	assistant: Mr. Fried and Mr. Mayfield, Toronto
Pauline Chung	....	set supervisor
Christopher Comrie	....	payroll accountant
Lee Ann Cotton	....	assistant coordinator: re-shoots
Tamela D'Amico	....	production assistant
Elan Dassani	....	computer playback operator
Ray Felipe	....	script researcher
Lisa Gyorfi	....	production secretary
Richard Hughes	....	location manager
Alan Kilmer	....	production assistant
Lizette Kilmer	....	production secretary (as Lizette Jaimes)
Ashley Kravitz	....	script clearance
Darron Leiren-Young	....	first assistant production coordinator
Rose Lister	....	first assistant accountant
Scott Allen Logan	....	location manager
Scott Allen Logan	....	location manager: additional photography
Jason Lorr	....	office production assistant: re-shoots
Sarah Nilson	....	location security (as Sarah Weight)
Scott Parker	....	post-production accountant
George Ploszczansky	....	security: Mr. Jackson
Boris Radivojevic	....	location support
John Rakich	....	location scout: re-shoots
Mary C. Snyder	....	title designer
Joe Steele	....	production resources
Brent Stephenson	....	production assistant
Sheree Thompkins	....	production assistant
Dave Tommasini	....	pilot: Wescam helicopter
Jacob Hair	....	tattoo designer (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Fried Films
• Meradin Productions

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Gussi Artecinema (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Pro 7 (2008) (Germany) (TV) (first airing)
• Veronica (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Intelligent Creatures (visual effects)
• Custom Film Effects (visual effects)
• Custom Film Effects (digital opticals)

Other Companies

• Mackey/Sandrich Casting  casting
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Northwest Sinfonia  orchestra
• Pictorvision  aerial camera system
• Tattersall Sound  picture editing facilities
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, rude dialogue and some violence (Approved No. 41703)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (Approved No. 41703) | UK:12A | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Ireland:12A | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Mexico:B | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Luke Goss wears a Freemason's ring in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Vann drives and knocks Booty into the telephone pole Vann can be seen driving on for a couple seconds afterward and past cars on the right. Those cars are gone and Vann is only a few feet past the telephone pole when he stops the car and gets out to "talk" with Booty.

Quotes:

Andy Fidler:I haven't met anyone that I didn't become friends with... eventually.
Special Agent Derrick Vann:Really? Because I haven't met anyone who's ass I didn't kick... eventually.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: The Worst of 2005" (2006)

Soundtrack:

It's a New Thing (It's Your Thing)

It's really not that bad

What can be expected from a movie called The Man? A comedy from the director of American Outlaws starring Samuel L. Jackson riffing on his Jules character from Pulp Fiction with the dad from American Pie can't be decent, can it? Surprisingly, this new fall comedy is actually humorous if not outright hilarious, and it is certainly better than it looks on paper or in the TV-spots. It is a great example of a "pleasant surprise." That's not to say the premise isn't pretty cookie-cutter: Andy Fidler, an innocent dental tools salesman (cue Eugene Levy) gets caught up in an illegal weapons plot and must deal with Special Agent Derrick Vann (Samuel L. Jackson playing what he plays best) and his crazy world.

Vann and Andy happen to be polar opposites, as well. What a surprise.

If this all sounds strangely like the average buddy comedy about the well-mannered white guy and the tough-as-nails black guy who don't get along at first but learn to appreciate each other and then become best friends, well, it pretty much is. However, unlike many buddy comedies, this one is actually enjoyable.

At a brisk 83 minutes the movie never lags too much, and instead of focusing on its implausible story or cliché subplots The Man keeps it mainly about the chemistry between its two main characters. Also, although much of the script is forgettable seldom is pure boredom reached.

Traps such as unoriginal overused subplots and gaping plot holes can often catch many unsuspecting buddy comedies by surprise and help make them DOA (dead on arrival), but The Man actually seems to revel in its unoriginality, content with not pushing boundaries but with instead just having some fun.

In the acting department, Samuel L. Jackson is especially a surprise. While it seems he would be pretty much bored of playing the same badass character time and time again, he manages to come off convincingly and even have some fun riffing on his theatrical persona. However, the movie never winks too much at the audience and it is able to stand on its own two feet rather than constantly say, "Hey guys don't mess with the Samuel L!" The fact that Eugene Levy is very talented at playing a character who is truly clueless also helps. Both Jackson and Levy have good chemistry and even though it's pretty much a two-man show The Man comes off without a hitch because it knows what its strength is: Levy and Jackson.

The only other actor that even warrants a mention really is Luke Goss as Joey. He helps make a mundane role tolerable and interesting. He doesn't steal the show, but he has fun with being the typical criminal villain surrounded by non-descript henchmen.

In the end, much credit should go to director Les Mayfield for his quick pacing and use of a variety of jokes. Again, with a movie that is basically just a rehash of many other comedies it is smart to never dabble on one topic too much and to let the actors roam free and get into their performances. The Man never becomes showy with fancy special effects or tons of big star cameos. Rather, it makes do with what it has.

Sure, there are a lot of visual gags and the infamous "fart jokes" (those don't seem to ever get old for Hollywood), but it's all in good fun and there's enough semi-clever situation humor to keep the entire thing moving. Sometimes it's even evident what is about to happen, but when it does it happens in a way that is just unexpected enough to be humorous in its absurdity. One gag involving the drop off of "some merchandise" at a crowded street corner is a nice play on the clichés of so many other movies very similar to this.

In the end, lives won't be changed because of The Man and it probably won't be as well received or as popular as something like the Wedding Crashers, but funny is funny and for an evening out at the movies a lot worse things could happen. Just look at The Cave.

Critic's Conclusion: It's not the funniest movie of the year but that doesn't mean it isn't funny at all, and what The Man lacks in originality it more than makes up for in charm mixed up with some lively performances. It's better than the TV-spots might lead you to believe, and although it's not a must see there are a million worse ways to spend a few bucks and a couple of hours.