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Amazon.co.uk Review
Hit man Martin Q Blank (John Cusack) is in an awkward situation. Several of them, actually. He's attending his high school reunion on an assignment; he's got a rival hit man (Dan Aykroyd) on his tail; and he's going to have to explain to his old girlfriend (Minnie Driver) why he stood her up on prom night. Grosse Pointe Blank is an amiable black comedy, cowritten by Cusack and directed by Jonathan Demme protégé George Armitage (Miami Blues), has the feel of Demme's Something Wild and Married to the Mob--which is to say its humour is dark and brightly coloured at the same time. Cusack and Driver are utterly charming--as is the leading man's sister, Joan, who plays his secretary. (Cusack received an Oscar nomination for her next role, in In & Out.) Alan Arkin is also very funny as Martin's psychiatrist. --Jim Emerson
DVD Description
Special Features: none
Languages in Dolby Digital 5.1 : English, French
Languages in Dolby Surround 3.0 : Italian
Subtitles: Dutch, Portuguese, English/English for the Hearing Impaired
Widescreen 1.85:1
Languages in Dolby Digital 5.1 : English, French
Languages in Dolby Surround 3.0 : Italian
Subtitles: Dutch, Portuguese, English/English for the Hearing Impaired
Widescreen 1.85:1
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Darkly comic. Deeply original. Desperately funny.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Grosse Pointe Blank [VHS] [1997] (VHS Tape)
OK, so it's the tale of a hitman headed back to his high school reunion, and the body count is pretty high. But bizarrely, this is still an incredibly funny and likeable film. Much of the credit for that goes to John Cusack, who turns in a performance of pure John Cusack, which is to say his character Martin Blank is full of the self-doubt, insecurity and self-deprecation he brings to every role. There are many wonderfully constructed scenes in this film too (check out Cusack's nervy, trigger-happy breakfast meeting with rival hit man Dan Akroyd), and the running gag of Cusack telling everyone what he does for a living never tires. It's a superb supporting cast too, with Joan Cusack turning in a typically excellent performance as Martin's secretary, Minnie Driver providing necessary contrast as the very normal girl Martin stood up the night he disappeared, and of course Akroyd as the annoying would-be unioniser of hitmen. It all adds up to one of the most original films you'll ever see. I've recommended this to countless people, and they were all knocked out by it. I defy you not to love it too.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A KILLER COMEDY...,
By
This review is from: Grosse Pointe Blank [DVD] [1997] (DVD)
This is an offbeat, black comedy about a hit man, Martin Blank (John Cusack), who is undergoing some personal angst about his career choice. He sees a psychiatrist, Dr. Oatman (Alan Arkin), who, once he becomes aware of his patient's profession, wants nothing more to do with him. Moreover, a most unlikely, rival hit man (Dan Ackroyd) is on his tail, looking to clear the field of a potential rival. What's a conflicted hit man to do? Why go to his tenth year high school reunion in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, of course. There, "Marty" plans to do his final hit and hook up with his high school sweetheart, Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver), whom he unceremoniously stood up on prom night, ten years earlier. Once he gets there, however, things do not go according to plan, and "Marty" is in store for a few surprises. John Cusack is terrific as the hit man, playing him with just the right blend of sangfroid cool and, at other times, with all the charm of the boy next door. Dan Ackroyd is funny as the unlikely rival hit man. Alan Arkin is excellent as the shrink who does not want "Marty" as his patient. Minnie Driver is the least compelling of those cast in this film, as she adds very little to its success. Joan Cusack, John Cusack's real life sibling, more than makes up for the gap left by Driver, however, as she infuses the role of Marcella, "Marty's" gal friday, with enough pizazz to shore up the film. All in all, this is a surprisingly entertaining film. Unfortunately, this DVD offers next to nothing by way of special features, and the DVD cover art is cheap and cheesy looking and strictly from hunger. Do not, however, let this deter you from buying this funny and unusual film.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Give this film a chance and it will astound you....,
By mark_f99@hotmail.com (South England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Grosse Pointe Blank [VHS] [1997] (VHS Tape)
Well, what can i say? Very rarely can a film of this consistent quality be found. Right from the very start this will have you captivated. It has one of the most original, witty scripts I’ve ever seen with some incredibly dark and intelligent comedy thrown in for good effect. Everything about this film shines, from the perfectly set soundtrack to the brilliant directing and filming. Please, if there is one film you watch all year, make it Grosse Pointe Blank.
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