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 & 8 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:

long range rifle | range | time bomb | man wears eyeglasses | disney | 

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Taglines:

Even A Hit Man Deserves A Second Shot!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, language and some drug content

Did You Know?

Trivia

As Marcella pours gasoline around the office, she has a lit cigarette in her mouth.

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Goofs

Martin's "empty" gun in his right hand is not empty after the NSA shootout.

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Quotes

Marty: Take care of yourself, Ken. Thank you for the pen.

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Connections

Referenced in The Big Hit (1998)

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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

Consistently surprising and entertaining

One of the complaints about movies these days, and justifiably so, is that they're predictable. This movie is not predictable, and I never thought I'd be able to say that about a movie with four credited writers. Every time you think you can guess where it's going, it throws a curve. It was also very funny, which is nice because good comedies are becoming a rare species. John Cusack continues to show what a great actor he is as hitman Martin Blank. He doesn't wink at the audience, saying, Oh look, I'm a hitman, but plays him as normal, with the right amount of misgivings and tenacity. Minnie Driver is quite good as the woman he's still obsessed with (although she was good in GOOD WILL HUNTING, she should have been nominated for this performance), and Alan Arkin and Jeremy Piven were good, as ever, in support. The surprise, however, is Dan Aykroyd. Just when I was prepared to write him off forever, he comes through with a great performance here. The soundtrack is terrific too, avoiding the cliched 80's songs to provide a fresh, and compatible, score.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Grosse Pointe Blank

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,870,397, 13 April 1997

Gross USA:

$28,084,357

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$28,084,357

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Caravan Pictures, New Crime Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1