The Minus Man (1999)

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
Brent Briscoe	...	Chief of Police
John Vargas	...	Priest
Lew McCreary	...	Man in Diner
Shannon Kies	...	Wendy
Madeleine Ignon	...	Karen - Age 5
Meg Foster	...	Irene
María Díaz	...	Anchorwoman (as Maria Diaz)
David Warshofsky	...	Pate
Mark Derwin	...	Creech
Matt Gerald	...	Arresting Officer
Little Jake	...	The General
Bogus	...	Beach Dog
Nitro the Cat	...	Zip Code
Petey	...	Barking Dog
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shannon Frank	...	Postal Clerk (uncredited)
Kevin Halloran	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Flo Lawrence	...	Lady behind Counter (uncredited)
John Carroll Lynch	...	Bartender (uncredited)

Directed by
Hampton Fancher

Writing credits (WGA)
Lew McCreary		(novel)
Hampton Fancher		(screenplay)

Produced by
Keith Abell	....	executive producer
Fida Attieh	....	producer
David L. Bushell	....	producer (as David Bushell)
Steve Carlis	....	executive producer
Joseph J. DiMartino	....	executive producer (as Joseph J. Dimartino)
Larry Meistrich	....	executive producer
Mary Vernieu	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Marco Beltrami

Cinematography by
Bobby Bukowski		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Todd C. Ramsay		(as Todd Ramsay)

Casting by
Anne McCarthy
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Andrew Laws

Art Direction by
Austin Gorg

Set Decoration by
Laser Rosenberg

Costume Design by
Kimberly Adams-Galligan

Makeup Department
Stacey K. Black	....	key hair stylist
Marjolein Hermans	....	additional hair stylist (as Majolein Hermans)
Nina Kraft	....	additional makeup artist
Cheryl Markowitz	....	additional makeup artist (as Cheryl Ann Markowitz)
Ann Pala	....	key makeup artist
Tiffany Shelby	....	additional makeup artist
Shelly Banks	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Kevin Halloran	....	unit production manager
Jamey Pryde	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Paul Clark	....	first assistant director
Carolyn Sara Fine	....	second second assistant director
Pilar Savone	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Mike Conner	....	leadman
Michael Coulter	....	swing
Jonathan Craven	....	property master
Brendon Crigler	....	on-set carpenter/scenic
Jeff Damal	....	on-set dresser
Sasha Dillon	....	painter: Irene's paintings
Anthony Franco	....	draper
Nicole Gorg	....	art assistant
Leon Hoiles	....	set dresser
David Melito	....	art department coordinator
Ryan Meyer	....	swing
Marilyn Morgan	....	assistant property master
Patrick Parkhurst	....	construction coordinator
Mari Porcari	....	assistant set decorator
Robert Smith	....	swing (as Rob Smith)
Suzi Strachan	....	swing
Jay Wertzberger	....	swing
Desi Wilson	....	swing
Fred Yee	....	scenic painter

Sound Department
Mike Altieri	....	sound utility
Thomas Brandau	....	sound mixer (as Tom Brandau)
Kurt M. Bunch	....	apprentice sound editor
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley artist
Pete Conlin	....	adr editor
Patrick Dundas	....	foley recordist (as Patrick G. Dundas)
James Eric	....	boom operator (as James R. Eric)
Gregg Getherall	....	assistant sound editor
Ann Hadsell	....	adr engineer
Brian Langman	....	foley editor
Terrance Laudermilch	....	sound re-recordist
Nadine Finzi Maybruck	....	assistant sound editor
Jacob Ribicoff	....	dialogue editor
Michael Shore	....	dialogue editor
Stuart Stanley	....	supervising sound editor
Tony V. Stevens	....	consultant: Dolby©
Dominick Tavella	....	re-recording engineer (as Dominick Tavella 'The Dominator')
Stephen Van Engen	....	apprentice sound editor
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr engineer (as Paul Zydell)

Visual Effects by
Larry Arpin	....	optical effects

Stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunt double: Vann (as Denny Pierce)

Camera and Electrical Department
Samantha Bahramian	....	electrician (as Samantha N. Baramian)
Francie Bouchee	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
John Buckley	....	camera loader
David Burroughs	....	gaffer
John Busch	....	key grip (as John Hayden Busch)
Helen Chough	....	first assistant camera
William Clouter	....	grip
James Coffin	....	grip
Gregory Cohen	....	second assistant camera (as Greg Cohen)
Chris Deford	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Ruben Diaz	....	electrician (as Ruben H. Diaz)
Tana Dubbe	....	best boy grip (as Tana Jane Dubbe)
Casey Ellison	....	electrician
Sam Emerson	....	still photographer
Graham Futerfas	....	best boy electric
Kirk R. Gardner	....	Steadicam operator (as Kirk Gardner)
John Harmon	....	grip
Norm Hvam	....	videographer (as Norm Vham)
Stuart T. Lillas	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Robertson	....	gaffer: second unit
Eric Schmidt	....	director of photography: second unit
Manuel G. Tapia	....	electrician
Benj Thall	....	electrician
R. Derek Keener	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Marc Lulkin	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
David Presley	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
John Shinn	....	electric intern (uncredited)
Robert Stenger	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Carrie Campbell	....	casting assistant
Freddy Luis	....	casting assistant (as Freddie Luis)
Jeff Olan	....	extras casting
Alan Joseph Ortanez	....	casting assistant
Tony Rasmussen	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rebecca Bentjen	....	wardrobe assistant (as Rebecca Cummings)
Agata Maszkiewicz	....	costumer
Leigh Okles	....	wardrobe assistant (as Leigh Okies)
Carrie Proffer	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Vivian Hengsteler	....	negative cutter
Christopher Kenneally	....	post-production assistant
Jeffrey Martin	....	apprentice picture editor
Nadine Finzi Maybruck	....	apprentice picture editor
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Aaron E. Stanford	....	assistant picture editor (as Aaron Stanford)
Susan K. Weiler	....	second assistant editor (as Susan Weiler)
Elwaldo Baptiste	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Matthew Abbott	....	assistant music supervisor (as Matt Abbott)
Marco Beltrami	....	musician: piano
William Boston	....	orchestrator (as Bill Boston)
Phil Carson	....	executive in charge of music
Barry Cole	....	music supervisor
Christopher Covert	....	music supervisor
James Flatto	....	music editor (as Jim Flatto)
Rachel Fox	....	executive in charge of music
M.B. Gordy	....	musician: percussion
Dennis James	....	musician: glass music
John Kurlander	....	music engineer
Kevin Manthei	....	music preparation services
Buck Sanders	....	musician: dobro and guitars
Buck Sanders	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
William Berumen	....	driver
Al Burton	....	transportation captain
Roger A. Byrd Jr.	....	driver
Michael Dawes	....	driver
Darrell Dubovsky	....	driver
Dan Duffy	....	driver
David Gerry	....	driver (as David T. Gerry)
George Graham	....	driver
Jeffrey F. Jones	....	driver (as Jeff Jones)
Ken Kaplan	....	transportation coordinator
Robert McIntosh	....	driver (as Robert Mcintosh)
Karl E. Nelson	....	driver
David Roumbus	....	driver: picture car
Bruce Rozenberg	....	driver
Carlos M. Serrano	....	driver

Other crew
Arturo Aguilar	....	park ranger
Amy Agzarian	....	assistant production auditor (as Amy Fitzer)
Andrew William Agzarian	....	production auditor
Serena Baker	....	assistant location manager
James D. Barrett	....	production assistant
Roger A. Berry	....	police officer: LAPD
Michael J. Bertolina	....	production assistant (as Mike 'Superfox' Bertolina)
Amanda Burton	....	assistant to producers
Jacqueline Butryn	....	location scout (as Jackie Butryn)
Rafael Cabrera	....	loop group
Alida Camp	....	production counsel
Dave Coenen	....	production assistant (as Dave Coennen)
Jamie Cohen	....	product placement
Lisa Diamond	....	post-production accountant
Terrell Doolen	....	location scout
Linda Duclos	....	assistant chef (as Linda Du Clos)
Robby 'Keyman Jr.' Ellison	....	craft service
Marjorie Ergas	....	assistant production coordinator (as Marjorie A. Ergas)
Jane Evelyn	....	office production assistant
Al Garcia	....	park ranger
Gary Gero	....	animal trainer
Mac Gordon	....	location manager (as Mcguire Gordon)
Christopher Hall	....	title designer
Susan Hartmann	....	assistant to producers
Scott E. Hart	....	animal trainer (as Scott Hart)
Ilt Jones	....	location scout
David H. Kramer	....	loop group
Patrick Lee	....	credit facility arranged by
Sue Malfitano	....	loop group (as Susan Malfitano)
Mara Morner-Ritt	....	counsel: Natexis Banque (as Mara Morner Ritt)
David Mortimer	....	unit publicist
Robert Ortiz	....	production coordinator (as Rob Ortiz)
Scott Peterson	....	script supervisor (as Scott 'Pook' Peterson)
Jose Pineda	....	park ranger
Bennett Pozil	....	credit facility arranged by
Lorraine Putnam	....	animal trainer
Morgan H. Rector	....	credit facility arranged by (as Morgan Rector)
Phil Rodowsky	....	continuity and spotting
Todd Rodowsky	....	continuity and spotting
Dan Schlaack	....	office production assistant
Amy Smolev	....	assistant production auditor (as Amy Fitzer)
Richard M. Steker	....	police officer: LAPD (as Richard M. Sieker)
Rose Stockton	....	loop group
Charles Swanepoel	....	chef
Jacqueline Swanepoel	....	assistant chef
Dennis E. Tindall	....	police officer: LAPD
Wes Ward	....	location scout
Bill Greenfield	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
Mike Le	....	assistant: Owen Wilson (uncredited)

Thanks
Ellen Albertini Dow	....	the production would like to thank
Jed Alpert	....	the production would like to thank
Kevin Tyler Asch	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery (as Kevin Asch)
Joe Ball	....	the production would like to thank
Sarah Black	....	the production would like to thank (as Sarah Ryan Black)
Beret Borsos	....	the production would like to thank
Eamonn Bowles	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Kathy Carlis	....	the production would like to thank
Jamie Chvotkin	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Howard Cohen	....	the production would like to thank
Crazy Legs Conti	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Rosemarie Costanza	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Lynn Crowell	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Andrew Dainoff	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Damon D'Amore	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Peter T. DaPuzzo	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery (as Pete Dapuzzo)
Mary Ellen De Angelis	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Myriam Diaz	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Michael Donnelly	....	the production would like to thank
Kristan Flynn	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
C.J. Follini	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery (as CJ Follini)
Elizabeth Gardner	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Brian Gilpin	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Andy Given	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Natasha Graf	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Michael Greene	....	the production would like to thank
Thomas Harney	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Bob Harvey	....	the production would like to thank
Liz Victor Holub	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Alexander Ignon	....	the production would like to thank
Edward A. Ioffreda	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery (as Eddie Ioffreda)
David Kanter	....	the production would like to thank
Elizabeth Kaplan	....	the production would like to thank
Noah Kaplan	....	the production would like to thank
Norman Karlin	....	the production would like to thank (as Norm Karlin)
Lori Killam	....	the production would like to thank
Carol Knorr	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Robert Kravis	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery (as Rob Kravis)
Rob Kristel	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Flo Lawrence	....	the production would like to thank
Eric Lederer	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Paul Leonardo Jr.	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Owen Levin	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Mark Lewis	....	the production would like to thank
Arnold Leyva	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Ilana Lipson	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Rick Marchitto	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Joanne Mariner	....	special thanks
Nicole Marino	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Jonathan S. Marshall	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery (as Jonathan Marshall)
Primavera Marte	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Victor Maymudes	....	the production would like to thank
Lynn Mccloskey	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Payson Meistrich	....	the production would like to thank (as Payson)
Quinn Meistrich	....	the production would like to thank
Shireen Meistrich	....	the production would like to thank (as Shireen)
Jim Miller	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Karl-Heinz Muller	....	the production would like to thank
Howard Neustadt	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Doug Nicholson	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Bill Nisselson	....	the production would like to thank
David Novack	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Tommy O'Donnell	....	the production would like to thank
Jim Powers	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Jack Pursell	....	the production would like to thank
Monique Quigley	....	the production would like to thank (as Monique Quigley & Baby)
Aylee Rhodes	....	the production would like to thank
Gaia Rhodes	....	the production would like to thank
Noel Rhodes	....	the production would like to thank
Hector Robles	....	the production would like to thank
Brandon Rosser	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Mike Rummel	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Christopher I. Russell	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Jenny Rebecca Sarpolis	....	the production would like to thank
Racquel Skolnik	....	special thanks
E. James Smith	....	the production would like to thank
Holly Sorensen	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Paul Speaker	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Mitchel Stanley	....	the production would like to thank (as Mitch Stanley)
Todd Steiner	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Mary Sunshine	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Kim Surowicz	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Thoma Thurau	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Dennis E. Tindall	....	the production would like to thank (as Dennis Tindale)
D. Garen Tolkin	....	the production would like to thank (as Garren)
Stephen Tolkin	....	the production would like to thank
Chris Tull	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Jennifer Vassos	....	the production would like to thank
Mark Vicente	....	the production would like to thank
Barbara Wallace	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery
Tom Weissler	....	acknowledgment: Team Shooting Gallery (as Tommy Weissler)
Ronnie Yeskel	....	the production would like to thank

Production Companies

• Shooting Gallery (present) (as The Shooting Gallery)
• Fida Attieh Productions (present)

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2000) (Canada) (DVD)
• Artisan Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Pony Canyon

Other Companies

• AIM Promotions Inc.  promotional consideration
• Adidas Entertainment Promotions  promotional consideration
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring (AHA9016-1)
• Austin Nicols & Co.  promotional consideration (as Austin Nichols & Company, Inc.)
• Axium Payroll Services  production payroll
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animal trainers
• Bostonian  promotional consideration (as Bostonian, A Clark Company)
• Bumble Ward & Associates  publicity
• CFI Imaging Group  titles and opticals (as CFI: The Imaging Group)
• Casala Ltd.  medic
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Charles' Location Catering  catering
• Cinelease  lighting and grip equipment
• City of Los Angeles Film Permit Office  the production would like to thank (as Los Angeles City Film Office)
• Clark Bar Candy  promotional consideration
• Costume Collection  the production would like to thank
• Davie Brown Entertainment (I)  promotional consideration (as Davie-Brown Entertainment)
• Dinah's Diner  the production would like to thank
• Dr. Pepper-Seven Up  promotional consideration (as Dr. Pepper & Seven-Up)
• East Coast Post  foley recording
• East Coast Post  post-production services
• Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC)  the production would like to thank (as The Entertainment Industry Development Corporation)
• Fossil  promotional consideration
• Frye Company, The  promotional consideration (as The Frye Company - a division of Jimlar Corporation)
• Fujifilm  filmed on (as Fujifilm Professional Motion Picture Products)
• Gipson, Hoffman & Pancione  counsel to Natexis Banque
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  production insurance
• Gun for Hire Productions  post production at (as Gun For Hire Production Center, NYC)
• Gun for Hire Resources  product placement
• Heinz USA  promotional consideration (as Heinz U.S.A.)
• Hollywood Camera Cars  promotional consideration
• Hollywood Security  the production would like to thank
• Imperial Bank  credit facility
• Jackson Shrubs  the production would like to thank (as Jackson Shrub Supply)
• JanSport  promotional consideration (as Jansport Bags)
• Keppler Entertainment  promotional consideration (for Cutty Sark Whiskey)
• Kiehl's Since 1851  promotional consideration
• Levi Strauss & Co.  promotional consideration
• Los Angeles County Film Office  the production would like to thank
• Manassero Farms  the production would like to thank
• Natexis Banque  credit facility
• On-Core Productions  continuity and spotting
• Outdoor Products  promotional consideration
• Panavision  camera & lenses (as Panavision®)
• Rainbow Casting Service  extras casting (as Rainbow Casting)
• Republic Bank California N.A.  production bank
• Scenario Design  sets constructed by (as Scenario)
• Schlotzsky's Deli  promotional consideration (as Schlotzsky's Deli Brand, Inc.)
• Sierra Polona Motel  the production would like to thank
• Sound Chamber Recording Studio  music recording facility
• Todd-AO Studios  adr recording
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack available on
• Viv Kim Negative Cutting Service  negative cutting
• Walt Disney Studios Costume Department, The  the production would like to thank (as Disney Costume Rentals)
• Warner-Lambert Company  promotional consideration (for Dentyne Ice Chewing Gum)

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:

Continuity: The license plates on Ferrin's Volkswagen change from one shot (2VIT788) to the next (5C49127).

Quotes:

Vann Siegert: I've never really cared for lakes.
Ferrin: [laughing] You don't *care* for lakes? Why? Why do you not *care* for lakes?
Vann Siegert: I don't know. Lakes are like... stepping into somebody else's underwear.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

When Our Band Goes Marching By

study of the pathology of isolation

"A person's brain is like a pet- sometimes it gets loose, sometimes it gets lost, sometimes it sort of behaves itself and stays in the yard."

This film isn't a mystery in the sense of a whodunnit, it's more of an examination of the mystery and strangeness of people, and the minutely strange things we do. Hampton Francher tows a taut line of existential inquest. This film defies categorization and really does get the gears turning by creating a complete world with an unrelentingly quiet unease. This film is what I'd call a mirror film, it's uninflected and amoral, so the ultimate interpretation is left to us.