I killed the president of Paraguay with a fork....how've you been?

[Potzer! 37]

So I'm gonna steal someone elses idea (thanks to whoever I stole from) and post the occasional thread about a movie I've been thinking about, or watched recently or whatever cause I wanna discuss it with you schmos.

First up, as those who are in the know...know, is Grosse Pointe Blank.

A really great film. So funny and cool and awesome. Great performances from the leads (can I get a hell yeah for Cusack?) and supporting (gotta love Jermy Piven) and such a cool idea.

One of my favorite Cusack films, behind High Fidelity (which, incidently is in my top ten) he is great here as a guy who's gotten depressed about his job. In a lot of ways, it's kind of like Office Space...but the job is professional killer, not cubicle dweller, but whatever.

His hand in the script is also good to note as Martin Blank is such a real character. His words, actions and re-actions all seem so sincere. The scenes at the reunion with him alone (at his old locker, looking at the baby with "under Pressure" playing) are great little moments about a man in transition.

I don't get why Cusack isn't an A-list star by now with multiple oscar nods. His work is always great, be it his trademark characters like Rob Gordon or his different turns like Ed from Identity, he always sells the character and gives a very real performance.

He's got great help here from Alan Arkin, Minnie Driver, Jermey Piven, the great Dan Aykroyd, his sister Joan Cusack and Hank Azaria. The interactions with everyone are great and the final shootout/monologue at Debbie's house is one of the best thing ever put on film for me. It's full of pretty cool action moments, great character stuff and really funny jokes...actually, that applies to the whole movie.

So, let's hear it...what did you think? What moments/ideas did I miss?

[Tweek]

John Cusack=Awesome
Dan Aykroyd= Awesome
This movie= Awesome



I guess it's clear I enjoyed it. -goes to add to Netflix queue-

[Sigur509]

Yeah, its one of my all time favorites.

[Potzer! 37]

me too...I got a great double feature dvd (single disc previously released versions) of this and High Fidelity for Christmas from Sams for like 12 bucks...best 12 bucks I ever spent.

[Superplasmatron]

saw this in cinema, yawned the way through it

[Potzer! 37]

What didn't you like about? Or do you not remember?

[EBastard]

One of the few great times I had with my Stepdad as a teenager was when he took me to see this. 8/10 for me.



SHIVER ME TIMBERS...

AND FUCK THOSE CRITICS WHO DIDN'T "GET IT".

[Lazy Boy]

My number one movie of 1997.

One of the most (magical? moving? quintessential? best?) scenes from the film is the face to face with the baby while "Under Pressure" plays on the soundtrack.

"I'm hurt, I'm pissed, and now I've gotta find a new job!"

[ZMoney08]

Awesome movie. I've been a huge fan since this came out and was one of the few movies I had on VHS that I upgraded to DVD after the switch.

[Finster]

Awsome film, excellent soundtrack and cussak once again preforms at a high standard. 9/10

[Cronos]

I love it, and that love grows even more every time I sit down to watch it. Excellent cast, Cusack, Aykroyd, Piven all rule. Excellent soundtrack, nice direction, with interesting characters and a really fun plot. I need to buy this now.

[Potzer! 37]

It's too bad the dvd is barebones...I'd love a Cusack commentary.

[EZM22]

I didn't understand this movie when I first watched it (I was 15 when it came out), mostly because the dialogue sounded weird to me and it was delivered in a rapid-fire style which made it sound (to me) as if everyone just spoke random thoughts... I don't know how to explain it properly, but that was my main beef with the film.

Watching it again about 10 years later, I found I liked the movie's quirkiness, and the premise itself is awesome... great dialogue, hilarious lines, and awesome cast, as well as some kickass action sequences (my first time out, I expected a full-blown Tarantino-style bulletfest from the previews, maybe that had something to do with my disappointment). A fun movie to watch now and again... but I still don't like Minnie Driver at all.

Alan Arkin deserved more screentime, his role as the therapist was great... that one scene where you briefly see him smashing his phone in frustration as Cusack leaves a message is hands down the biggest laugh in the movie for me.

[Danger^Cart]

Popcorn!

[Potzer! 37]

I don't wanna join your damn union...Lone wolf, lone gunman, alone, that's the whole point! Look at the way I dress.

[bigred760]

Great characters telling a great story. The story of the professional killer who's a bit depressed, and then ends up going to his high school reunion is hilarious. Cusack is awesome, Minnie Driver is great, but Dan Ackroyd steals the show in every scene he's in. There are great action scenes, great character scenes, and the supporting characters of Joan Cusack and Alan Arkin add to the chemistry. Great flick . . . one I probably should buy.

[EBastard]

In addition to my earlier post, I can't help but think that War Inc. is gonna be so inferior compared to GPB.



SHIVER ME TIMBERS...

GRANTED, JOAN AND DAN ARE BACK WITH JOHN, BUT THAT TRAILER WAS ALL OVER THE FUCKING PLACE.

[Potzer! 37]

Originally Posted by EBastard

In addition to my earlier post, I can't help but think that War Inc. is gonna be so inferior compared to GPB.



SHIVER ME TIMBERS...

GRANTED, JOAN AND DAN ARE BACK WITH JOHN, BUT THAT TRAILER WAS ALL OVER THE FUCKING PLACE.

Agreed, thought I'm going to see it...something about that flick just doesn't sit right with me...if Cusack wasn't involved I would have no interest in it...same can be said for Martian Child, Runaway Jury and Must Love Dogs...what can I say? I'm a fan.

You'll all see...as soon as I "make it" and cast him as Jeffery Gordon in "Fathers and Sons" and he gets his oscar...then those of you who don't "get him" will all see.

[HoyleHaw]

Went to see it in theaters. Cracked up with Dan Aykroyd. Now watching it I think Alan Arkin is freakin' hilarious. John Cusack is just great at playing average guys, and his sister is great at playing nervous wrecks.