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.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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aTomiK
.... has green eyes as well....
Member # 6575
posted
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.
Posts: 2729 | From: Kansas City, MO "At the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance" | Registered: Apr 2007 | Site Updates: 9
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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..
Posts: 1069 | From: Dragon of the Black Pool Restaurant, Chinatown. | Registered: Mar 2006 | Site Updates: 0
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Seriously, John Cusack could kick your ****.. No bull..
Posts: 1069 | From: Dragon of the Black Pool Restaurant, Chinatown. | Registered: Mar 2006 | Site Updates: 0
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
posted
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".
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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Kash
Kash : Aha! He'll save every one of us...
Member # 297
posted
'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.
Posts: 2041 | From: The Ice Planet Hoth | Registered: Jul 2001 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
'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..
Posts: 1069 | From: Dragon of the Black Pool Restaurant, Chinatown. | Registered: Mar 2006 | Site Updates: 0
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
posted
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.
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kevdugp73
He's eating after dark again....
Member # 5978
posted
I know I've seen this movie, but for some reason can't remember much about it. Definitely on my radar....
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Nothing is overrated if you like it... Posts: 2729 | From: Kansas City, MO "At the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance" | Registered: Apr 2007 | Site Updates: 9
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posted
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.
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Valley Dated Julie From 'Valley Girl' (allegedly!)
Member # 1322
posted
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.
Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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posted
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.
Posts: 4413 | From: Where the streets have no name | Registered: Oct 2002 | Site Updates: 0
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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. Posts: 7845 | From: Smiling and glancing in awe in the back of a limo | Registered: Mar 2003 | Site Updates: 22
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80'sRocked Play it Loud, Play it Proud
Member # 6979
quote:Originally posted by Valley: Okay, I think he is really a Calculus teacher....
Yeah....I remember he was in Stand and Deliver.
Posts: 3614 | From: Caught Somewhere in Time.... | Registered: May 2008 | Site Updates: 101
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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!!
Posts: 1069 | From: Dragon of the Black Pool Restaurant, Chinatown. | Registered: Mar 2006 | Site Updates: 0
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posted
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.
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