The Minus Man (1999)

A cold-blooded serial killer floats around the country and chooses his victims from people who complain about their lives and indicate a willingness to be killed. His murders are introduced... See full summary »

Director:

Hampton Fancher

Writers:

Lew McCreary (novel), Hampton Fancher (screenplay)

Stars:

Owen Wilson, Sheryl Crow, Dwight Yoakam

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Owen Wilson	...	Vann
Sheryl Crow	...	Casper
Dwight Yoakam	...	Blair
Dennis Haysbert	...	Graves
Alex Warren	...	State Trooper
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Jane
Chloe Black	...	Karen - Age 18
Brian Cox	...	Doug
Eric Mabius	...	Gene
Larry Miller	...	Paul
Lois Gerace	...	Lois
Erik Holland	...	Coach
Danny 'Big Black' Rey	...	Arthur (as Daniel 'Big Black' Rey)
Janeane Garofalo	...	Ferrin
Axel Ovregaard	...	Joe La Moine

Storyline

A cold-blooded serial killer floats around the country and chooses his victims from people who complain about their lives and indicate a willingness to be killed. His murders are introduced with the killing of an asthmatic junkie. The killer settles into a seaside rooming house run by an unhappy married couple and waits for his next victims to unveil themselves. Dream cops plague his nights, while plotting his murders. Meanwhile, he also starts a relationship with a postal clerk.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | seaside | postal clerk | post office | drink | 

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Taglines:

When he's around nothing adds up

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and a scene of drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Az idegen

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$40,292, 12 September 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$368,808, 24 October 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shooting Gallery,Fida Attieh Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the television newscaster is reporting on the murder of Laurie Bloom, the town's name of Owensville is shown on the screen. Owen Wilson is the star of the film.

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Goofs

The license plates on Ferrin's Volkswagen change from one shot (2VIT788) to the next (5C49127).

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Quotes

[first lines]
Vann Siegert: [Vann walks into a bar, seeing a lady and a bartender] Do you have any pie?
Bartender: Nope.
Vann Siegert: Hmm.
Bartender: No pie. No pizza. No kitchen. Just booze.
Laurie Bloom: You got pickles.
[the three of them look at the pickle jar that's full of yellow juice and yellow pickles]

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Connections

Referenced in Home Bound (2014)

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Soundtracks

When Our Band Goes Marching By
Written by Willard A. Palmer, Morton Manus and Amanda Vick Lethco
Performed and Arranged by Tor Hyams
Courtesy of Shooting Gallery Records and Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Brilliant suspense....

Recently re-viewed this film again, and was struck by the direction, overall intriguing performances and suspense throughout.

Owen Wilson gives a surprisingly real performance as complex and tortured character,Van, an aimless man with serious issues. As the story develops we see his splitting-off persona, and fictive characters (well-portrayed as police detectives,i.e.; His alter-egos).His pathology is never fully explained, even as he tries to psychoanalyze himself with voice over narrative.

A brilliant film written by Hampton Fancher.First decent suspense film I have seen since Hitchcock.Highly recommended. 10/10.