Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001)

This is a comedy about mistaken identities, a hitman who sees everything in terms of the movies, and a twenty-year-old diamond heist.

Director:

Chris Ver Wiel

Writer:

Chris Ver Wiel (as Chris Verwiel)

Stars:

Christian Slater, Tim Allen, Portia de Rossi

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christian Slater	...	Trevor Allen Finch
Tim Allen	...	Critical Jim
Portia de Rossi	...	Tess Tobias
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Micah Tobias
Billy Connolly	...	Dr. Mike Savian
Peter MacNeill	...	Detective Tripp (as Peter MacNeil)
Bill MacDonald	...	Detective Delaney
Richard Chevolleau	...	Detective Horst
Elias Zarou	...	Detective Rafferty
RuPaul	...	Ginger Markum
Joseph Scoren	...	Rowdy Virago
Eugene Lipinski	...	Falco
Shawn Doyle	...	Crow Gollotti
Louis Di Bianco	...	Nimble
Tony Nappo	...	Fife

Storyline

Chicago hitman Critical Jim (Tim Allen) has apprehended his latest New York target, Cletis Tout. The only reason Jim has not yet killed him is that he states he is not really Cletis Tout. The only thing in which Jim finds greater satisfaction than getting the job done, is watching classic movies, especially ones with a good story. As such, Jim gives him the opportunity to "pitch" his story to save his life. Saying that his name is Trevor Allen Finch (Christian Slater), he is a career white collar criminal who recently broke out of prison with a friend to help said friend retrieve a cache of diamonds he hid long ago. Beyond Finch assuming Tout's identity to elude the authorities, which got him into this predicament with Jim, he and his friend found that retrieving the diamonds were not going to be as easy as going back to where he had hid them. There was also the added complication of a young woman, Tess Tobias (Portia de Rossi), entering his life, she, who he may have let slip through...

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Plot Keywords:

diamond | heist | independent film | 

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Taglines:

Getting the alias was half the battle. Surviving it is the other.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sarah Michelle Gellar was offered the role of Tess Tobias, but turned it down.

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Goofs

When Finch and Micah are making their new identification papers, there is a shot where the corner of laptop that Finch is using to make the ID's is visible. The green screen on the laptop screen is visible - no post-production was done to the computer screen in that shot.

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Quotes

Rowdy Virago: You two cheesedicks couldn't improvise a fart after eating a three bean salad.

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Connections

References The Maltese Falcon (1941)

User Reviews

A Worthwhile Diversion

Not that this would stick in your head, but...it's an enjoyable caper movie. We get to see TIm Allen playing against type, Christian Slater doing his eyebrow thing), Richard Dreyfuss as a wizened mentor (sort of a criminal Yoda), and Portia DeRossi looking gorgeous.

The story is mostly told in flashback form, as a bound Christian Slater relates his tale to hitman Allen. It's predictable at times, but worth a look, especially on video. I understand it hasn't had a wide theatrical release in the US yet, and that makes a certain amount of sense. It's just not violent or flashy enough for the average US filmgoer. Oh well. Everyone's missing out on a good natured, likable film.

Best line, from Allen to Slater: "Has anyone ever told you you sound EXACTLY like Jack Nicholson?"

Details

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 2001 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Baklövészet

Filming Locations:

Todmorden Mills, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$64,867, 28 July 2002

Gross USA:

$252,706

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$280,458

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fireworks Entertainment, Itasca Pictures, Nichol Moon Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1