A Better Way to Die (2000)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Scott Wiper

Writer:

Scott Wiper (written by)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

A Chicago cop quits the force and finds himself threatened by the Mafia.

Cast

Scott Wiper	...	Boomer
Jack Conley	...	Fletcher
Carmen Argenziano	...	Carlos
Richard Haje	...	The Mute
Matt Gallini	...	Laslov
Rolando Molina	...	Chach
Kirk McKinney	...	Spaz
Jefferson Moore	...	Harrison James
Wayne Duvall	...	Rifkin
Mirjana Jokovic	...	Salvi
Conner Greene	...	Salvi's Son
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	William Dexter
Benjamin John Parrillo	...	Cooper
London King	...	Cheryl
Jon Farris	...	Fagan
John Robert Thompson	...	Bureau Director
Jim Conrad	...	Miles
Natasha Henstridge	...	Kelly
Joe Pantoliano	...	Flash
Andre Braugher	...	Cleveland
B'nard Lewis	...	Sweet Lou
Zachary Mott	...	Tex
Rick Hoffman	...	Regis
Bernard Canepari	...	Sheriff
Daniel Buran	...	Grocery Store Clerk (as Dan Buran)
Dick Hagerman	...	Deputy Ray
Morgan Lund	...	Fisherman
John Basinger	...	Sexton
Jeanine Basinger	...	Sexton's Wife
Joe Romeo	...	Elevator Henchman
Gary Demastry	...	Sheriff's Deputy (as Sheriff Gary Demastry)
David Peck	...	Sheriff's Deputy (as Lieutenant David Peck)
Andy Robberts	...	Sheriff's Deputy (as Detective Andy Robberts)
Jeff Dixon	...	Sheriff's Deputy (as Deputy Jeff Dixon)
Brett Blake	...	Sheriff's Deputy (as Deputy Brett Blake)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Fike	...	Thug #2
John Kloock	...	Thug #2
Tony Sagastizado I	...	Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by
Scott Wiper

Writing credits
Scott Wiper		(written by)

Produced by
Christopher Ball	....	executive producer (as Chris Ball)
Jim Bigham	....	line producer
Bradley Fuller	....	producer
Russell Gray	....	producer
Linda Hawkins	....	executive producer
Nancy Lanham	....	associate producer
Vincent Newman	....	executive producer (as Vincent G. Newman)
Benjamin John Parrillo	....	associate producer
Graham Taylor	....	producer
Tucker Tooley	....	executive producer
William Tyrer	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John M. Keane

Cinematography by
Lawrence Sher		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
James E. Tooley		(as James Tooley)

Casting by
Russell Gray

Production Design by
Sarah Alcorn		(as Sarah B. Alcorn)
Ren Blanco

Set Decoration by
David Dreyer

Costume Design by
Martina Neverman
Emmy Taylor

Makeup Department
Andrea Checroun	....	special makeup effects artist
Ann Davis	....	key makeup artist
Cory Henderson	....	hair stylist
Keleigh Lippert	....	key hair stylist
T.C. Thecla Luisi	....	key makeup artist
T.C. Thecla Luisi	....	key special makeup effects
Heather Odenweller	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Jim Bigham	....	production manager
Eric Davies	....	production supervisor
Daryl De Quetteville	....	post-production supervisor
Karri O'Reilly	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brady Calestro	....	second second assistant director
Eric Davies	....	first assistant director
Marco Fargnoli	....	second unit director
Eric Gordon	....	second second assistant director
Luke Scully	....	first assistant director
Caroline Stephenson	....	second assistant director
Larry Zience	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Kais Alkuraishi	....	swing gang
Timothy Lovell	....	lead scenic
Ron Riddle	....	construction foreman
Dylan Skrede	....	assistant props
Tim Stanton	....	lead carpenter
Randy Swiggum	....	property master
Michael Waites	....	carpenter
Samuel Weaver	....	on-set dresser
Thomas Richner	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Doug Andham	....	predub sound mixer (as Doug Andorka)
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Richard Corwin	....	dialogue supervisor
Mark Ferrell	....	boom operator
Sandy Gendler	....	supervising sound editor
Lisa Hannan	....	sound effects editor
Bob Harmon	....	sound re-recording mixer
Maui Holcomb	....	assistant dialogue editor
Allen Hurd	....	sound recordist
Shawn Ian Kerkhoff	....	assistant sound editor
Alan Kerr	....	foley artist
Geoff Maxwell	....	sound mixer
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	co-supervising sound editor
Paul N.J. Ottosson	....	sound designer
Jesse Pomeroy	....	dialogue editor
Sergio Reyes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Reuben Simon	....	foley supervisor
George E. Simpson Jr.	....	boom operator (as George Simpson)
Paul Stanley	....	post sound coordinator
Scott Turner	....	post sound coordinator
Mark Weber	....	sound mixer
Lance Wiseman	....	adr editor

Special Effects by
Bob Chastain	....	special effects technician
Robert Garrigus	....	special effects technician
Richard Huggins	....	special effects coordinator (as Richard C. Huggins)
John D. Jay	....	special effects assistant (as John Jay)
Dean W. Miller	....	special effects technician (as Dean Miller)

Stunts
Chris Carlson	....	stunts
Dan Clark	....	stunts
Tom Dziak	....	stunts
Todd Emmett	....	stunts
Richard Fike	....	stunt coordinator
Rashad Hagler	....	stunts
John Klock	....	stunts
John Kloock	....	stunts
Ron Parobek	....	stunts
Tom Quinn	....	stunts
Ron Russo	....	stunts
Robert Skidmore	....	stunts
Toby Smith	....	stunts
Dan Sprague	....	stunts (as Danny Sprague)
Randy Stidham	....	stunts
John Sundquist	....	stunts
Frank Wagoner	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Antonio Anguilar	....	key grip
Joe Cassano	....	electrician
Joe Cassano	....	swing grip
Rich Cefalo	....	grip
Kelly Cummins	....	assistant camera
Kevin Demorest	....	dolly grip
Alfredo Denila	....	best boy grip (as Alfredo S. Denila III)
Julie Donovan	....	first assistant camera
Marco Fargnoli	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Bryan Haigh	....	second assistant camera
Sharon Hardie	....	still photographer
Joe Hollow	....	video assist operator
David Irwin	....	gaffer
Seth Kotok	....	first assistant camera
Seth Kotok	....	first assistant camera: second unit
John Mays	....	third electrician
Justin Portwood	....	key grip
Joe Romeo	....	best boy electric
Wayne E. Smith	....	company grip (as Wayne Smith)
Dave Suskind	....	still photographer
Jason Wawro	....	first assistant camera
Adam N. White	....	swing grip

Casting Department
Matt Downey	....	extras casting
Charles W. Hupp	....	extras casting assistant
Lynn Myers	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sherry Clark	....	wardrobe assistant
Donnie McFinely	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Donnie McFinley)
Joyce Merriless	....	costume constructor
Mary Ellen Metzger	....	assistant costume designer
Sarah Rachelle	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Saul Escobedo	....	color timer
Eric Jonak	....	post-production assistant
Michael Reynolds	....	assistant editor
Michael K. Reynolds	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Stan Jones	....	music editor
David Klotz	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
John Cesari	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Kate Amer	....	production coordinator
Joseph Bargdill	....	production assistant
Ben Bisso	....	stand-in: Mr. Phillips
Matt Bloomquist	....	office intern
Linda Brattain	....	production accountant
Brady Calestro	....	location assistant
Kevin Carr	....	production assistant
Tom Donaldson	....	stand-in: Joe Pantoliano
Marisa Dovidio	....	script supervisor
Marcus Dreeke	....	production assistant
Dan Duran	....	assistant location manager
Dan Duran	....	assistant location manager
Mark Easter	....	stand-in: Mr. Wiper
Belinda Ellis	....	post-production accountant
Valiera Feldman	....	production assistant
Dave Ford	....	production assistant
Tamara J. Frank	....	office production assistant
Alison Frost	....	set production assistant
Dwayne Harrison	....	stand-in: Mr. Braugher
Miryam Henein	....	stand-in: Ms. Jokovic
Charlie Kupp	....	office intern
Kelly O'Bier	....	accounting assistant
Jen O'Neal	....	set production assistant
Kristy Osborn	....	assistant production coordinator
Benjamin John Parrillo	....	location manager
Nat Reeb	....	production assistant
Brian Reichle	....	production assistant
Tom Self	....	production assistant
Melanie Smith	....	production assistant
Trevor Smith	....	production assistant
Cheryl Starbuck	....	script supervisor
Patrick Sweeney	....	craft service
Samuel Weaver	....	location manager
Lindsay Wittenberg	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Newmarket Capital Group (presents) (as Newmarket)
• Newman/Tooley Films

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Veronica (2003) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Other Companies

• AIM Promotions Inc.  product placement
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance
• Digital Sound Works  mixing facilities
• Film Finances  bond company
• Hollywood Recording Services  adr facilities
• Pollet Law  legal services
• Ron & Art's Catering  catering
• Sound Asylum  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence throughout, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

Argentina:96 min | Australia:97 min | USA:101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:18 | Germany:18 | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Newmarket Capital Group

better than you'd expect

When the movie started i thought that its gonna be just another one of those stupid ones where the most important thing is a car blowing up. That would be my guess but as the story developed after 15 minutes, the movie got better. A variety of good characters made it even better and a touch of humor even more. But this does not mean that things wont be blowing up. The story is also developing pretty good and it takes unexpected turns as the good guy turn bad and the bad ones turn good. The whole concept of a dude being in the wrong place at the wrong time is good and till the end you'll just be waiting for it to hit you with another new situation that you haven't seen before, nor later.