Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

George Armitage

Writers (WGA):

Tom Jankiewicz (story)
Tom Jankiewicz (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Even A Hit Man Deserves A Second Shot!

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Assassin | High School | High School Reunion | Hitman | Union

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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
Mitch Ryan	...	Mr. Bart Newberry (as Mitchell Ryan)
Michael Cudlitz	...	Bob Destepello
Benny Urquidez	...	Felix La PuBelle
Duffy Taylor	...	Ultimart Carl
Audrey Kissel	...	Arlene
Carlos Jacott	...	Ken
Brian Powell	...	Husky Man
Ann Cusack	...	Amy
D.V. DeVincentis	...	Dan Koretzky
Barbara Harris	...	Mary Blank
Wendy Thorlakson	...	Melanie the Waitress
Belita Moreno	...	Mrs. Kinetta
Patrick O'Neill	...	Nathaniel (as Pat O'Neill)
Jenna Elfman	...	Tanya
Steve Pink	...	Terry Rostand
K.K. Dodds	...	Tracy
Bill Cusack	...	Waiter
Traci Dority	...	Jenny Slater
Doug Dearth	...	Eckhart
Colby French	...	Bartender
Brent Armitage	...	Cosmo
Jackie Rubin	...	Marie
Sarah DeVincentis	...	Dr. Oatman's Patient
Eva Rodriguez	...	Nurse
David Barrett	...	Bicycle Messenger
Bobby Bass	...	Assassin #1
Lance Gilbert	...	Assassin #2
Pete Antico	...	Assassin #3
Laurence Bilzerian	...	Assassin #4
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karmyn Tyler	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
George Armitage

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Jankiewicz		(story)
Tom Jankiewicz		(screenplay) and
D.V. DeVincentis		(screenplay) &
Steve Pink		(screenplay) &
John Cusack		(screenplay)

Produced by
Brent Armitage	....	associate producer
Susan Arnold	....	producer
Roger Birnbaum	....	producer
John Cusack	....	co-producer
Jonathan Glickman	....	executive producer
Steve Pink	....	co-producer
Donna Roth	....	producer (as Donna Arkoff Roth)
Jackie Rubin	....	associate producer
Lata Ryan	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Jamie Anderson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Brian Berdan

Casting by
Junie Lowry-Johnson		(as Junie Lowry Johnson)
Ron Surma

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Scott Meehan

Set Decoration by
Chris L. Spellman		(as Chris Spellman)

Costume Design by
Eugenie Bafaloukos

Makeup Department
Colleen Callaghan	....	hair stylist
Todd Masterson	....	prosthetic makeup effects designer
Cindy J. Williams	....	makeup artist (as Cindy Jane Williams)

Production Management
Steven Brown	....	unit production manager
Pat Rand	....	post-production manager: Caravan Pictures

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen Altman	....	second unit director
Marcei A. Brown	....	second assistant director (as Marcei A. Brubaker)
Tom Carleton	....	first assistant director: second unit
Evan Gilner	....	second second assistant director
Josh King	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Matthew R. Altman	....	on-set dresser (as Matthew Altman)
Aneikit Bonnel	....	art department coordinator
Anthony Maccario	....	property master
Michael Reinhart	....	construction coordinator
Tim Snowber	....	leadman
R. Lucas Stewart	....	construction foreman
Thomas R. Wagner	....	assistant property master (as Thomas Geraci-Wagner)
Cliff Carothers	....	general foreman construction (uncredited)
Beth Emerson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ted Haigh	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Timothy O'Brien	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Fred O'Connor	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Tim Park	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Benjamin Beardwood	....	dialogue editor
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Dean Drabin	....	foley mixer
Joe Earle	....	sound effects editor (as Joseph Earle)
Eric Erickson	....	adr editor
Eric Erickson	....	foley editor
Mark C. Grech	....	cable person (as Mark Grech)
Ann Hadsell	....	adr recordist
Sarah Hammond	....	foley walker
David Hankins	....	supervising sound editor
Robin Harlan	....	foley walker
James Hebenstreit	....	adr editor (as James B. Hebenstreit)
James Hebenstreit	....	foley editor (as James B. Hebenstreit)
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randall Johnson)
Mark Kamps	....	assistant sound editor
Gary Lewis	....	dialogue editor
Myron Nettinga	....	sound effects editor
Ralph Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Art Rochester	....	sound mixer (as Arthur Rochester)
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor
Frank Wolf	....	sound engineer
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Paul Hickerson	....	special effects foreman
Ron Trost	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Steven Davis	....	computer graphics (as Steve Davis)
John C. Bush	....	computer graphic artist (uncredited)
Michael Curtis	....	digital trailer effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Jeff Brockton	....	stunts
William H. Burton Jr.	....	stunts (as William Burton Jr.)
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Jeff Dashnaw)
Lisa Dempsey	....	stunts
Eddy Donno	....	stunts
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts (as Richard Ellis)
Tom Harper	....	stunts
Greg Harris	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as William H. Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Kevin L. Jackson	....	stunts (as Kevin Jackson)
Anthony Kleeman	....	stunts
Stacy Logan	....	stunts
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (as Ronnie Rondell)
David Welch	....	stunts
David Barrett	....	stunts (uncredited)
Christian J. Fletcher	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill H. Schwocho	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael J. Bailey	....	best boy electric (as Michael Bailey)
Greg Banta	....	electrician
Ken Berkhout	....	electrician
Randy Berrett	....	grip
Tom Campau	....	camera operator: second unit
Billy Clevenger	....	first assistant camera
James D. Doherty	....	best boy grip (as James Doherty)
Daniel Duggan	....	grip (as Danny Duggan)
Jimmy Ferguson	....	loader
Jay Galbo	....	electrician
Carlos M. Gallardo	....	dolly grip (as Carlos 'Coco' Gallardo)
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	still photographer
Conrad W. Hall	....	camera operator
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
John Haskell	....	electrician
John Layne	....	electrician
Ted Lewis	....	grip
Karl Linde	....	second assistant camera
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	video supervisor (as Robert Morgenroth)
David Morton	....	gaffer (as Dave Morton)
Peter Wagner	....	key grip
Jay M. Huntoon	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
David Katz	....	video assist operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Justine Baddeley	....	casting assistant
Libby Goldstein	....	casting assistant
Kathy Mooney	....	extras casting (as Kathy Mooney-Ellis)
Dixie Webster	....	extras casting (as Dixie Webster-Davis)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Adrienne Childers	....	costumer
Maurice Palinski	....	costumer
Scheris Shephard	....	costumer
Barcie Waite	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Joanne Abrams	....	post-production associate
Marisa Johnston	....	post-production coordinator: Caravan Pictures
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Blake Maniquis	....	first assistant editor
Alan Z. McCurdy	....	second assistant editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Blake Danforth	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music consultant
Brian Carrigan	....	score consultant
D.V. DeVincentis	....	music consultant
Chris Douridas	....	music consultant
Parker Logan	....	assistant music editor
Jill Meyers	....	music clearance
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Sharlotte Blake	....	soundtrack executive producer: London Records (uncredited)
Bryan Carrigan	....	music programmer (uncredited)
Bryan Carrigan	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)
Elvis Costello	....	song producer (uncredited)
Michael Fey	....	music executive (uncredited)

Transportation Department
William Ballard	....	transportation captain (as Bill Ballard)
Dan Dengel	....	transportation coordinator: second unit
Gary Shephard	....	transportation coordinator
Larry Shephard	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Joanne Abrams	....	production secretary
Samuel F. Arroyo	....	craft service
Gerard Averill	....	assistant location manager
Scott Bartolick	....	helicopter operator: second unit
Ralph Coleman	....	location manager
Graham Cousens	....	production assistant: second unit (as Graham Cousins)
Doug Dearth	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Deirdre De Tappan	....	production coordinator: Caravan Pictures
Doris Donnenberg	....	assistant production coordinator
Ned Dowd	....	head of production: Caravan Pictures
Aaron Greene	....	assistant: Mr. Armitage
Walter Horne Jr.	....	production associate
Kimberly Jones-Clark	....	second assistant accountant
Jessica Krekorian	....	assistant: Roth/Arnold
David Krieger	....	production assistant: second unit
Joe Lafata	....	production assistant: second unit
Karen Laverty	....	assistant: Mr. Armitage
Stevie Lazo	....	production accountant
Cricky Long	....	production associate
Kelly Malone	....	stand-in
Alex McClain	....	production associate
Brian Powell	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Kelly Richards Ralston	....	first assistant accountant
Huey Redwine	....	stand-in
Anne S. Reilly	....	unit publicist
Woody Schultz	....	production associate
Bill H. Schwocho	....	stand-in
Robert Sharman	....	video coordinator
Kerry Shea	....	production coordinator
Laura Simmons	....	set medic
Julie Stuppler	....	assistant: Mr. Glickman, Caravan Pictures
Cathy Thomas	....	location manager: second unit
Lisa Thomas	....	payroll accountant
Dennis Thorlaksen	....	production associate (as Denny Thorlakson)
Barbara Tuss	....	script supervisor
Marlena Wilkens	....	assistant: Mr. Birnbaum, Caravan Pictures
Nellie Adami	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Nicholas de Wolff	....	acting coach (uncredited)
Gary C. Ferraro	....	caterer (uncredited)
Jack E. Herman	....	extras set coordinator (uncredited)
Michael Parks	....	location manager (uncredited)
Connie Wang	....	assistant script clearance administrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hollywood Pictures (presents)
• Caravan Pictures (in association with)
• New Crime Productions (in assocation with)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1997) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Gativideo (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• CIS Hollywood (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• E=mc²  computer/24-frame video effects provided by
• Eastman Film  produced and distributed on
• For Stars Catering  catering
• L.A. Mad Dogs  adr voice casting (as L.A. Maddogs)
• London Records  soundtrack
• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Todd-AO Studios  post-production mixing (as Todd-AO)
• Todd-AO Studios  sound editing

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and some drug content.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #34841) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Ontario) (video rating: 2004) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 (TV version) | Spain:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Benny Urquidez's character's name, Felix La PuBelle, is pronounced the same way as "poubelle," which is the French word for garbage can.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Debbie is reclining on the bed, chatting to Martin, her sleeves move up and down between shots.

Quotes:

Marty: What are you doing here?
Ultimart Carl: I'm doing a double shift. What does it look like?
Marty: How long have you worked here?
Ultimart Carl: A couple months.
Marty: Is the manager here? Do you have a supervisor?
Ultimart Carl: No. They...
Marty: [Interrupting] How long have they worked here?
Ultimart Carl: I'm not tellin' you.
Marty: Yeah? Where do you live?
Ultimart Carl: I'm not tellin' you that, either.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Chuck: Chuck Versus the Cougars (#2.4)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Absolute Beginners

Hilariously Light and Fluffy, Yet Dark Comedy

Sometimes one bad apple ruins the whole thing. One drop of taint makes the best things in life go bad. An this movie was full of potential taint. It could have been Minnie Driver (the weak point of "Good Will Hunting"). It could have been Dan Ackroyd (whose comedic routines can go from great in "Ghostbusters" to stupid in "Coneheads"). Or maybe it could even have been the fact the writers and director really have no prior experience in making a big film. But the potential taint never happened and this film came out almost flawless.

Minnie Driver was given such a small role that her poor acting and unbelievable character (which, I guess isn't her fault) could be overlooked and placed in the margin. Not her worst performance, but not her best (which might be "Beautiful").

Dan Ackroyd was superb, actually presenting us one of the funnier yet darker villains in cinematic history. His delivery of Bible verses while shooting willy-nilly through a target's house? Diabolical! The directing was respectable and the writing was spot-on. Some great dialog between the characters and the story could not be beat. Seriously.

The Cusacks? Oh my! John Cusack is a winner in everything he's ever done (besides maybe "One Crazy Summer"). This movie is one of his best, almost as memorable as "Say Anything" (though that one is flatly unbeatable). Joan Cusack was also pretty cool as a receptionist and her rapport with John is clear and shines in the film. I'm not buying a phone from her, though. And John's sparring with his kickboxing instructor? Those lessons have paid off! Jeremy Piven? Stupendous, as good if not better than his "Chasing Liberty" role. Having starred in 10 films with John Cusack, this is probably their best together.

There are so many more praises I could heap on this movie, but I shouldn't have to. If you want to see a funny, quirky and well-crafted tale about a professional hit-man and a high school reunion, this is your film of choice. You might rent "Michelle and Romy", but not only will you not get the hit men, but you'll get a piece of dog doo, as well. So choose wisely.