The Minus Man (1999)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Hampton Fancher

Writers (WGA):

Lew McCreary (novel)
Hampton Fancher (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 October 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Don't see it alone. Unless you like talking to yourself.

Plot:

A cold-blooded serial killer floats around the country and chooses his victims from people who complain...

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Poison | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

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

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of drug use.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:12 | USA:R (#36873)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Shooting Gallery

Trivia:

Cameo: [Lew McCreary]The author of the novel on which the movie is based has a role as the man in the diner.

Goofs:

Factual errors: U.S. Postal Vehicles don't have license plates.

Quotes:

Vann Siegert: Corn is good.
Laurie Bloom: Corn?
Vann Siegert: If it's fresh. It makes you feel better.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

A beautifully crafted, complex and touching thriller

Hampton Fancher is a brilliant writer and director. In The Minus Man, he has managed to accomplish several tasks that no one else has be able to do. He is the first director who has cast Janeane Garofalo in a role that reveals her immense sex appeal. Ms. Garofalo's character, Ferrin displays a full range of emotions and despite her obvivous personal demons, she is a beam of light in a rather dark and disturbing film. Owen Wilson is magnificant as the quirky, unassuming vagabond killer machine, Van. Much of the movie is told by Van's narration. We are made to sympathize with his obvivious moral confusion. The scene with Van and Ferrin are touching, sweet and spooky. Mr. Fancher's fantastic film is further enhanced by the presence of Mercedes Reuhl and Brian cox as the landlords who rents Van a room. Ms. reuhl is allowed to be troubled and complex and still maintain her smouldering, mature sexuality while Mr. Cox is still engaging despite his David Lynchian psychotic episodes. This director even manages to makes Van's truck and the sun-drenched, westcoast beachscape a character in the film. A must-see!