Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001)

Cletis Tout is a comedy about mistaken identities, a hit man 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 hit-man Critical Jim 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 Jim finds greater satisfaction in 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 Finch, 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 long ago hid. 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 Donnelly, entering his life, she who he may have let slip through his fingers despite being probably the one with who he was ...

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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

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Classics

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, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$252,227, 13 October 2002

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of Kay Tremblay.

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Goofs

When Tess is on the roof of the building with the gun, the magazine she inserts is shown to be empty when she pulls back the charging handle.

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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 Heaven Can Wait (1978)

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?"