Professional assassin Martin Q. Blank (John Cusack) finds himself depressed and irritable, dissatisfied with his work and the increasing competition from rival assassins, including Grocer (Dan Aykroyd), whose efforts to unionize the business puts him at potentially lethal odds with Martin. Following a botched contract, Martin receives an invitation to his 10 year high school reunion in his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Initially reluctant to attend, he is pressured into it by both his therapist (Alan Arkin) and his secretary (Joan Cusack), already booking him for a contract to re-establish ties with a disgruntled client over the botched contract.
"Grosse Pointe Blank" might be a movie from 1997, but the premise is outstanding and it basically reflects back to life in 1986. I highly recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys quirky cool movies.
The movie soundtrack is like an awesome mixture of popular and progressive 80's tunes:
Volume 1 "Blister in the Sun" (Violent Femmes) "Rudie Can't Fail" (The Clash) "Mirror In The Bathroom" (English Beat) "Under Pressure" (David Bowie and Queen) "I Can See Clearly Now" (Johnny Nash) "Live and Let Die" (Guns N' Roses) "We Care a Lot" (Faith No More) "Pressure Drop" (The Specials) "Absolute Beginners" (The Jam) "Armagideon Time" (The Clash) "El Matador" (Los Fabulosos Cadillacs) "Let My Love Open the Door (E. Cola Mix)" (Pete Townshend) "Blister 2000" (Violent Femmes)
Volume 2 "A Message to You, Rudy" (The Specials) "Cities in Dust" (Siouxsie & the Banshees) "The Killing Moon" (Echo & the Bunnymen) "Monkey Gone to Heaven" (Pixies) "Lorca's Novena" (The Pogues) "Go!" (Tones on Tail) "Let it Whip" (Dazz Band) "The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight" (Dominatrix) "War Cry" (Joe Strummer) "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" (Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel) "Take on Me" (a-ha) "You're Wondering Now" (The Specials) "99 luftballons" (Nena)
Everytime I watch this flick, the incredible tunes put a smile on my face.
The chemistry between Minnie Driver and John Cusack along with the witty script make this movie a classic that fans of the 80's should definitely check out.
Oh and did you notice the arcade game the clerk was playing in the convenience mart that was formerly Martin's childhood home? It was a mockup created for the movie of the video game Doom II.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
I love this movie and i love Minnie!
Posted by J2ME (Member # 5728) on :
One of the best films of the 90s.
The fight scene between Cusask and Benny "The Jet" Urquidez will always be the stand out scene for me.
Big Fight Night Posted by Mr. Jack Burton (Member # 4673) on :
An all time classic and my favourite John Cusack,
Yes I just said that!!
Posted by jdocster (Member # 5752) on :
I always liked the "vibe" of this movie too. Very good flick. Now I need to watch it again!
I wonder if Benny trained him for that fight scene. He's done a lot of that work.
Posted by Mr. Jack Burton (Member # 4673) on :
quote:Originally posted by jdocster: I always liked the "vibe" of this movie too. Very good flick. Now I need to watch it again!
I wonder if Benny trained him for that fight scene. He's done a lot of that work.
No doubt. He's John personal trainer..
Posted by jdocster (Member # 5752) on :
Posted by Mr. Jack Burton (Member # 4673) on :
quote:Originally posted by jdocster:
Seriously, John Cusack could kick your ****.. No bull..
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Actually, the fight in "Grosse Pointe Blank" is the only fight Benny Urquidez ever lost. Great reference by Cusack about him in the movie "Say Anything".
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
'The Jet' held his own against Jackie Chan on a few occassions, so fair play to him.
Grosse Pointe Blank? one of the best films of its decade. One of those rare pictures that never gets boring no matter how many times you see it.
Martin Q. Blank: [Leaving a message on Dr. Oatman's machine] "Dr. Oatman, please pick up, pick up! It's Martin Blank! I, I'm standing where my, uh, living room was and it's not here because my house is gone and it's an Ultimart! You can never go home again, Oatman... but I guess you can shop there. "
Genius.
I've not seen it yet, but John says 'War INC.' is a companion piece / loose sequel to 'GPB', though as I've said before: I consider 'Say Anything', 'Grosse Pointe Blank' and 'High Fidelty' to be part one odd, interconnected saga.
Posted by Mr. Jack Burton (Member # 4673) on :
'The Jet' held his own against Jackie Chan on a few occassions, so fair play to him.
Ah Kash, hate to be the one to tell you this, but Benni could kill Jackie any day of the week. He never lost a bout in a 20 year career and if Jackie ever stepped in a ring for real with him, it would be over real quick..
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Another thing I really thought was cool was that John included not only his sister Joan Cusack whom everyone knows, but his sister Amy plays the drunk former classmate at the Hippo Club, and his brother Bill plays a waiter at said club.
It really seemed that John Cusack put a ton into this movie and as Kash mentioned, I've also heard that the movie "War, Inc." has some similarities where he plays an assassin, Joan plays his assistant, and Dan Ackroyd has a supporting role.
Posted by kevdugp73 (Member # 5978) on :
I know I've seen this movie, but for some reason can't remember much about it. Definitely on my radar....
Posted by Pittsburghgirl (Member # 7514) on :
Don't worry, it's not that good. completely over-rated.
Posted by Mr. Jack Burton (Member # 4673) on :
quote:Originally posted by Pittsburghgirl: Don't worry, it's not that good. completely over-rated.
Whaaaaaaa??????? Posted by jdocster (Member # 5752) on :
PBG,
Nothing is overrated if you like it... Posted by Devolution (Member # 1731) on :
Devolution here,
A total classic. And I rarely say that. My least favorite part is the actual reunion.
Dan Ackroyd is great. I think I spelled that wrong.
We are DEVO
Posted by Pittsburghgirl (Member # 7514) on :
Do I need to go back and re-watch this movie? I remember all of the huge hype over it, and I thought it was a total letdown. It wasn't funny to me at the time, or entertaining at all. And I just can't grasp Cusack with Minnie Driver, huge head and all. I can only think of the episode of the Family Guy where they were trying to fit Minnie Driver's head completely onto the screen for a shot in a movie and they found it to be impossible, ha,ha.
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
Maybe rewatch it again, but I do understand when you watch a movie and for some reason one of the main actors/actresses doesn't feel right for you. It is hard to enjoy because you think someone else better fits the role.
Also, some movies work better as you progress in your own life. I remember watching Kurt Russell and Robin Williams in the movie "The Best of Times" back in the 80's and it was only marginally appealing. Then, I watched it years later and thought it was hilarious because I had reached that age where my high school days were all now somewhat 'overexaggerated' memories. Ya know, kind of like Reno Hightower's touchdown passes.
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
This is one of my favorite 90's Cusack movies, it has his stamp all over it from the soundtrack to the plot. I love the return to high school/lost love theme coupled with the darker themes of Cusack's profession. Minnie Driver was great too, I love that scene where Cusack is looking at the baby.
Posted by Mr. Jack Burton (Member # 4673) on :
quote:Originally posted by Devolution: Devolution here,
A total classic. And I rarely say that. My least favorite part is the actual reunion.
Dan Ackroyd is great. I think I spelled that wrong.
We are DEVO
Yep.. It's Aykroyd
Posted by Valley (Member # 1322) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Jack Burton:
quote:Originally posted by Devolution: Devolution here,
A total classic. And I rarely say that. My least favorite part is the actual reunion.
Dan Ackroyd is great. I think I spelled that wrong.
We are DEVO
Yep.. It's Aykroyd
Back off man, Devo's a scientist not an English professor. Okay, I think he is really a Calculus teacher....which was kind of like science for most of us. Posted by 80'sRocked (Member # 6979) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valley: Okay, I think he is really a Calculus teacher....
Yeah....I remember he was in Stand and Deliver.
Posted by Mr. Jack Burton (Member # 4673) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valley:
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Jack Burton:
quote:Originally posted by Devolution: Devolution here,
A total classic. And I rarely say that. My least favorite part is the actual reunion.
Dan Ackroyd is great. I think I spelled that wrong.
We are DEVO
Yep.. It's Aykroyd
Back off man, Devo's a scientist not an English professor. Okay, I think he is really a Calculus teacher....which was kind of like science for most of us.
Hey its all good Valley!!
I asked like ten guys working here to spell it and zero got it right!!
Posted by Mike. (Member # 7179) on :
This is without doubt one of my all time favorite film the humour in it is spot on and the soundtrack gives it a real 80's feel i think. It seems like all the cast were really up for it and gave great performances.
Posted by KING 80'S (Member # 7744) on :
THiS MOViE IS NOT AN 80'S CLASSiC ! iT'S FROM THE 90'S.
Posted by LoverswithCassie (Member # 7794) on :
Here in Australia, there is a magazine called "That's Life" and it formerly had a feature called "Celebrity Likes And Loathes." John Cusack was one interviewed and he listed one of his loathes as guns, whinging that their easy availability in the United States of America caused that country to have one of the highest homicide rates in the world (patently somebody forgot to impart him that while it is true that some states in the United States of America have liberal gun laws, others actually have strict ones!) His comment was very hypocritical, given that he had no worries about using a gun himself as an instrument of homicide in "Grosse Pointe Blank." Very much like Susan Sarandon taking part in the Million Mom March despite her using a pistol to kill the would-be rapist who insults her and Geena Davis in the car park outside the dance hall in "Thelma And Louise."
Posted by jdocster (Member # 5752) on :
There are a bunch of misinformed, undereducated, left-wing actors in Hollywood that like to jump on the liberal bandwagon. Cusack is one of them. I love his movies, but hate his politics. Most of them look like idiots when somebody debates them on the "issues" they care so much about. It's really a shame, and because they "do" represent our country to some extent, they make all Americans look stupid in the eyes of the equally misinformed and undereducated people that listen to them abroad.
- jdocster Posted by MotleyRulz (Member # 3598) on :
Don't forget to add Danny Glover who detests guns yet had no trouble brandishing them in four Lethal Weapon movies. And Rosie O'Donnell who is extremely anti-gun yet wanted her own bodyguards to be armed when taking her kids to school. Wait to appeal to the common people ya bunch of hypocritical oafs. Anybody else saw the video where O'Donnell ambushed Tom Selleck on her own show? It goes to show ya her lack of class when compared to Selleck's. I loved how she says she gave him a chance to explain his side yet the slob kept interrupting him........
[ 13. April 2009, 15:59: Message edited by: MotleyRulz ]
Posted by jdocster (Member # 5752) on :
heheee.... Paul had to slap me around a bit... Sorry Paul...
I here you Motley,
Lots of self-important people in the media... The shame of it is, people look up to these people. Posted by Nostalgic for the '80's (Member # 37454) on :
Recently re-watched "Grosse Pointe Blank" - excellent '80's nostalgic film, as well as having a funny story & incredible soundtrack.
Possibly my favorite scene was when Martin Blank (Cusack) had that fight to the death w/the rival assassin in the hallway of his old high school - all while Nena's "99 luftballons" played over the loudspeakers - LOL.
As an '80's kid I felt old when this movie came out in 1997...and that was 20 years ago. Reminders about how long it's been since you've graduated high school are a sure-fire way of making you really realize how old you are - LOL.
This was probably the first & definitely the BEST of those "10-year high school '80's reunion" movies that came out in the late '90's - the other two that come to mind are "Romy & Michele's High School Reunion" (1997) and the much more obscure TV film "Since You've been gone" (1998), starring David Schwimmer.
This film also reminded me that I've never attended a high school reunion - and at this point, I never will - too depressing....
[ 12. March 2017, 19:12: Message edited by: Nostalgic for the '80's ]
Posted by the young warrior (Member # 9554) on :
Terrific movie Nostalgic that i caught in the theatres upon its release and i can't believe that 20 years have since passed, certainly in there amongst my 90s top ten as is director's George Armitage's 1990 thriller Miami Blues with Alec Baldwin.
Nowadays John Cusack can only dream about these types of great roles and scripts especialy what with the amount of the turkeys he's appeared in of late!
I did love the scenes between Cusack and his shrink as played by the great Alan Arkin which i thought were hilarious and the soundtrack too was first rate!
[ 13. March 2017, 14:11: Message edited by: the young warrior ]
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