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Grosse Pointe Blank

Grosse Pointe Blank

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wit and action (and even a little romance)...
Review: This movie includes something for everyone - John Cusack's so-quick-you-might-miss it wit, a great plot, Joan Cusack's hilarious character, Jackie Chan-esque action (all done somewhat comically), and some of the greatest movie moments in recent years - who could forget "It is I - Sidney Feldman" or "Still inflicting that horrible Ethan Frome damage?" or even "You can never go home again... but at least you can shop there"? Performances are great all around, especially from Minnie Driver, who only lets her English accent slip out twice in the whole movie, and even then it is barely noticeable. The script is great, the action is slick, and it could even pass itself off for a romantic comedy if one tries hard enough to see it that way. This is the kind of film groups of different people can watch together and everyone will find something they like about it.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: If You don't See this Movie I'll put a Contract on You...
Review: Grosse Point Blank is one of the best dark comedies I have ever seen. When a film gets classified as a dark comedy it rarely makes you laugh it makes you want to return it.

Grosse Point Blank is about a hit man (John Cusak) who is tierd of his job and his life, when he gets a letter informing him of his 10 year high shcool reunion(in Grosse Point Michigian). This sends a flood of memories back, and when a job in Detroit gets dropped in his lap he is forced to go to grosse point to follow his target. He is now left in his home town to deel with his old girl friend (Minnie Driver) he ran out on, on Prom Night 10 years ago.

Several plot twists leave you on the edge of your seat and the whitty banter between Cusak and Driver. Hank Azaria his also hillarious as a cop sent to follow Cusak. So Please Rent Or Buy This NOW!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: So far off the mark it's enjoyable...
Review: When I first saw this movie I was apalled at the blase way they aproach the subject of being a hired assasin. It was rather unfunny, and I have much more of a flair for romantic comedies and classics. However not being one to sit through movies and annoyingly say to those around me, "That would never happen..." For if it could happen it would be that much less entertaining. I did not and stomached the mediocriy of this black comedy. It was not enjoyable nor unenjoyable so I left it at the idea that i was never to see it again. However, I have a brother who persuaded me to do otherwise and the second time I saw it, much to my surprise, I cracked a smile. Then the third time my brother pleaded and cajoled me into watching his well loved movie I laughed and found myself... gasp...enjoying it much more than I wanted to. So the verdict would be, not good by a long shot but it definitly grows on you. Watch it in good cmpany and you'll enjoy it that muc more.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This film can change your life! Taken in moderation.
Review: Those of us who review films on sites like this often feel (or at least I imagine we do) that we should be awarding five stars to movies we think are all-time classics, like Bresson's "Pickpocket" or Godard's "Le Mepris". And yet, when we look into our hearts and ask ourselves what films we'd actually like to pull out and watch of an evening, we (or at least I) tend to find that the films we really love are of quite a different kidney. Like this one.

I went to see this in the cinema with my quondam girlfriend when we were both in a bad mood and suffering from various non-relationship-related troubles. We walked out a couple of hours later feeling cleansed, relaxed, happy and just that bit much more in love with each other. You wouldn't think that a romantic comedy about a professional killer could have that effect on people, but it can. I (we) am (are) living proof.

This film masquerades as a cool, flip comedy about Martin Blank (Cusack), dead-eyed hitman, and his return to his home town for his high school reunion, during which he meets the former love of his life, Debi Newberry (Driver). It's actually a military-industrial grade stress-test of the human capacity for love and renewal. The comedy arises from that late-twenties feeling that you wish you could return to your past with a genuine sense that you've done something amazing in the meantime. Martin actually has, in that he's killed loads of people. Throughout the film, Cusack is constantly informing people that he's a professional killer, and they refuse to believe him. He struggles towards some sort of budget-priced redemption whilst being trailed by a psychopathic Basque terrorist (named La Poubelle, which means "dustbin" for non-French-speakers), two bumbling government spooks and an even more amoral rival hitman (Dan Aykroyd in sleaziest form). It's more than just a comedy, and I'm aware that I'm coming across as a Kevin Smith character here - it's a work of blooming art.

Confession: an American friend of mine worked in John Cusack's theatre company New Crime so I am perhaps biased in favour of this effortlessly hippest and sharpest of actors. But when you look at the 80s teen comedies that he helped to carry, they stand up quite a bit better than many of the other ones out at the time; and he continues to be involved in class stuff. More power to him.

Riddled with oh-so-nostalgic 80s hits (nostalgic at least for those of us who grew up during that uniquely repellent decade), there isn't a single minor character who isn't beautifully sketched. The cast is fantastic (Minnie Driver is as luscious as ever and is thoroughly convincing for such a nice English girl, Joan Cusack is wonderfully droll as her real-life brother's worried secretary, Jeremy Piven is a splendid sidekick and Alan Arkin does a lovely turn as Martin's terrified shrink) and the dialogue is as crisp as fresh lettuce. The only slight problem is a broad range of sound level; it's hard to catch every line unless you turn the volume up really loud. But otherwise, a fab movie, and George Armitage's best work since the notably funky "Miami Blues", which is one of the few films (besides "Glengarry Glen Ross") to unleash the malevolent genius of Alec Baldwin. Watch it with a partner, a bottle of good Scotch (if you happen to indulge) and a prestige snack of your choosing.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Cool, cool movie
Review: John Cusack is devastatingly cool as the contract-killer-with-a-heart in this excellent film. It's difficult to slot into a single category, as in contains elements of drama, action and romance - but it's mainly a comedy. The killer-shrink exchanges are extremely funny, pre-dating the similar-concept 'Analyze This' and the execrable 'Gun Shy' by a couple of years. There's quite a bit of unabashed hardcore violence and gore, but what makes the film interesting is the human side Cusack brings to his hitman - the dance hall scene full of wry, awkward social humour and the scenes with his mother and psychiatrist are particularly good.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hilarious comedy.
Review: This hilarious movie is about hitman Martin Blank (John Cusack) who returns to his 10 year school reunion to get in touch with his long lost love (Minnie Driver) and meet up with an old friend (Jeremy Piven). But chaos corrupts when hitmen are there to hit him. And whose all behind this? A man named Groser (Dan Aykroyd), Blank's rivarly hitman. Veru funny, great 80's music, and very action filled. Also stars Alan Arkin, Jenna Elfman, Barbara Harris, Hank Azaria, and Joan Cusack.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sharp and very entertaining
Review: Once in a while a movie comes along that thoroughtly entertains you without being too serious/dramatic or too silly. Grosse Pointe Blank is one of those movies. It definetly has a pulp fiction like feel to it, without the chronologic blimps. People that didn't like pulp fiction might like this one though. Even though John Cusack is playing a killer the emphasis of the movie is not on that aspect. The emphasis on reuniting with his high school girlfriend makes this almost a romantic comedy departing far from pulp fiction. Minnie Driver is very charming and connects with Cusack in a believable way. Aykroyd is hilarious as a fellow-killer.

Highly recommended

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not as cool as "Pulp Fiction"
Review: "Grosse Pointe Blank" follows in the footsteps of Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction". It's about a hit man, Martin Blank (John Cusack) who returns to his hometown of Grosse Pointe for his high school reunion. There he meets up with an ex-girlfriend (Minnie Driver) who he ditched at the prom ten years ago and hasn't seen since. At the same time, a competing professional killer (played by Dan Ackroyd) has put a hit out on Martin, because he refuses to join up with him. So Martin's always looking over his shoulder. Occasionally he phones his shrink (Alan Arkin) for advice.

If you haven't already guessed, "Grosse Pointe Blank" is a comedy. This is the kind of movie where people don't connect very well, so when Martin is inevitably asked what he does and he answers honestly, "professional killer", it doesn't even register - everyone's so self-involved. John Cusack (who was terrific in "The Grifters" - a much better film) is appealing, though, in a cool sort of way. It's directed by George Armitage, who did "Miami Blues" a while back - a film I also liked. And there's a hip soundtrack that features Violent Femmes, The Clash, and The Specials among others.

You might want to give it a try on video. It'll do (barely) while we wait for "Being John Malkovich" to come down in price or the next Tarantino movie to be released.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Watched it seven times
Review: The first time I saw this movie it was only the last half. So I scoured the TV Guide *every week* for about two months before they showed it again. As soon as I taped it, I watched it seven times, so it's definitely worth buying. Funny, romantic, dark - I love the double life thing. The action is good, John Cusack is great (so is Minnie Driver), and the soundtrack rocks. Just watch it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Intensely Amazing
Review: People have recommended this movie to me for years, but I kept on passing, for some unknown reason. I finally saw it, and I loved every single minute of it! This is one of the sharpest, funniest, most clever, and, yes, most romantic movies I've had the pleasure of seeing in a LONG TIME. Driver and Joan add a spice to the movie that would be greatly missing without them both. And Cusack is, well, a sure bet every single time. You will love this movie. You will watch it again and again, so buy it . . . and also dance down memory lane with the "flashback" 80s tunes!


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