Grosse Pointe Blank
Director: Mark Goldblatt
Year: 1997
Rating: 8.0
Damn, I have been wanting to re-watch this film
for about 20 years I guess. I just remember enjoying it so much but had forgotten
what a great cast was in it other than John Cusack, his sister Joan and of
course Benny Urquidez, a great kickboxer but I knew him from a few Hong Kong
films. But besides these three there is also Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, Alan
Arkin, Hank Azaria and Jeremy Piven. Hell of a cast and all given some good
screen time. It is a nutty offbeat film from Hollywood, especially for 1997
when it seemed an odd combo of a Hong Kong action film and Romy and Michele's
High School Reunion, which came out in the same year. Cusack trained with
Benny and was one of the writers and producers of this film. Hard to imagine
Hong Kong action wasn't the inspiration. I had also forgotten what a great
new wave soundtrack it has throughout the film. A lot of my favorites from
that period.
Class reunions are tough. 10th year ones when people expect you have gotten
somewhere in life by then or you have to spend the night trying to remember
names and then realize no one remembers yours. Awful affairs. But Martin feels
stressed from his job so his secretary (Joan) convinces him to go and do
a side job while he is there in nearby Detroit. It is also an opportunity
to catch up with his old girlfriend (Minnie) who he left waiting for him on
prom night. Ten years ago. Some explaining to do. Toughest part is what he
does. He tells them jokingly that he is a hitman - but it's no joke. He is
a cold blooded killer but an incredibly charming one trying to work through
his issues with his psychiatrist, Arkin. When accused of being a psychopath
he indignantly pushes back - psychopaths kill for no reason, I kill for money.
If I show up at your door, it probably means you did something to deserve
it.
But he isn't the only killer in town, an assassin competitor (Aykroyd) who
wants to unionize the trade sends two killers to kill Martin, a lone assassin
(Benny) is there to kill Martin and eventually Aykroyd shows up with a van
full of killers to kill Martin. The fight between Cusack and Benny is pretty
legit - real hits - as I mentioned Cusack had trained with him for over 20
years and they knew they could really hit one another for real. That Cusack
kick to the chest banged the hell out of Benny. But the reunion is going
on - hard to tell which is more painful - the killers or having to pretend
you care what your old friends are up to. It is a great mix of dry humor
and John Woo bullet ballet (ok, not as good as Woo). It is the sort of role
that Cusack could eat up back then when he was in his prime - smart, sardonic,
droll, cool, slick and charming. It is like Lloyd Dobler grew up to be a
killer when the Ione Sky character dumped him. And Aykroyd plays it straight
and serious and totally absurdist as only he can do. So after 20 years I
still enjoyed this film to the hilt and will make a date in another 20 years.
I looked to see who the director was and it is someone named George Armitage
who has done very little else - Miami Blues and a couple others. I wonder
how he got this gig and how he did such a good job.
