A Shock to the System (1990)

Director:

Jan Egleson

Writers (WGA):

Simon Brett (novel)
Andrew Klavan (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 March 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Killing is easy... Getting away with it is murder.

Plot:

Graham Marshall already celebrates his anxiously awaited promotion in an advertising company, when he learns that Roger Benham...

Plot Keywords:

Private Plane | Lighter | Sleeping Pill | Murder By Electricity | Whiskey

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Graham Marshall
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Stella Anderson
Peter Riegert	...	Robert Benham
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Leslie Marshall
Will Patton	...	Lt. Laker
Jenny Wright	...	Melanie O'Conner
John McMartin	...	George Brewster
Barbara Baxley	...	Lillian
Haviland Morris	...	Tara Liston
Philip Moon	...	Henry Park
Kent Broadhurst	...	Executive #1
Zach Grenier	...	Executive #2
David Schramm	...	Executive #3
Sam Schacht	...	David Jones
Christopher Durang	...	Convention Speaker

Runtime:

91 min | Canada:89 min (Ontario) | UK:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:14 (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Iceland:12 (re-rating) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Essex Fells, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Brigand Films

Goofs:

Continuity: A detective questions Michael Caine's secretary and writes down his telephone number on a piece of notepad paper for her. Later, when she decides to call him, she has his business card.

Quotes:

Graham Marshall: I've never understood why you need a stair *machine* when we have stairs!
Leslie Marshall: Because I have to keep going up, silly! If I had to keep going down, I'd lose the whole aerobic benefit.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Kapou se xero: (#1.9)" (2001)

A Better Corporate Ladder

Here was the first, and maybe the best hero of the 90's. Graham has been passed over for a promotion that everybody in his office knew he was going to get. And who gets it, but a weasly cigar smoking, boat owning, money loving yupster named Robert Benham.

Now, this probably happened a million times over in the junk bond, crush the little guy 80's. But it's doubtful that many of those caught in the squeeze were as resourceful as our hero Graham is. All it takes is an overzealous panhandler and a subway platform to teach Graham what it takes to survive in the business world. Once he learns, the only way to go is straight up.

Michael Caine's wry performance as Graham is a treat. From his valiant attempts to placate his shrewish wife, to his tirades at his new boss, to his convenient bewitching of a female officemate, Caine constantly pulls us into his corner.

Peter Riegert as the weasel, Swoosie Kurtz as the shrew, and Elizabeth McGovern as the smitten colleague add to the fun, hitting each note perfectly. All three develop their characters quite nicely, without slowing the story a bit.

If you're looking for shrill black humor, you won't be satisfied with Shock to the System. It is a mean film, but it's far too subtle, and not kinetic enough for the Tarantino crowd. This movie is all about stealth. Graham quietly brings the Madison avenue crowd to there knees. Sure, a few bodies pile up, but even Jerry Rubin grew to admire the corporate sharks that were spawned during the greed grab 80's. Anybody who could change from a draftcard burning hippie to a silk suit wearing yuppie would certainly identify with Graham's transformation.

I only hope Graham was more lucky than Jerry. Mr. Rubin and his briefcase left this world several years back, courtesy of an inattentive driver. If you understand this type of irony, you'll enjoy Shock to the System.