"That Justin Theroux guy - where do I know him from?" Depending on whom you ask, you could get a great many answers. Of course, he's the husband of Jennifer Aniston, but he's had a string of notable acting roles too. He could be that guy from The Leftovers, the actor who played the hapless director character in Mulholland Drive, Leslie Knope's short-lived boyfriend on Parks and Recreation, or even the bad guy from Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. However, Theroux is also a screenwriter, and he's credited with a handful of major films that casual movie-goers might not associate with him.
- 2/16/2016
- by Drew Mackie, @drewgmackie
- PEOPLE.com
"That Justin Theroux guy - where do I know him from?" Depending on whom you ask, you could get a great many answers. Of course, he's the husband of Jennifer Aniston, but he's had a string of notable acting roles too. He could be that guy from The Leftovers, the actor who played the hapless director character in Mulholland Drive, Leslie Knope's short-lived boyfriend on Parks and Recreation, or even the bad guy from Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. However, Theroux is also a screenwriter, and he's credited with a handful of major films that casual movie-goers might not associate with him.
- 2/16/2016
- by Drew Mackie, @drewgmackie
- PEOPLE.com
Aliya Whiteley Sep 4, 2019
John Cusack's winning turn in Grosse Pointe Blank stands as a compelling companion piece to his work in Say Anything...
There was a time when John Cusack was the go-to guy for smart, funny teenager roles that nobody but the audience were meant to like. It was a skilful trick to pull; in the 1980s Cusack, in great films such as The Sure Thing and Say Anything, touched a chord with those who considered themselves to be facing the same problems as the characters he played: unpopular, unlovable, unlaid. But the undeniable truth was that he was cool in his dysfunctional way, and we loved it when he didn’t compromise himself and yet got the girl on his own terms.
But what would have happened to him if he hadn’t got the girl at all?
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) is the older version of that John Cusack hero.
John Cusack's winning turn in Grosse Pointe Blank stands as a compelling companion piece to his work in Say Anything...
There was a time when John Cusack was the go-to guy for smart, funny teenager roles that nobody but the audience were meant to like. It was a skilful trick to pull; in the 1980s Cusack, in great films such as The Sure Thing and Say Anything, touched a chord with those who considered themselves to be facing the same problems as the characters he played: unpopular, unlovable, unlaid. But the undeniable truth was that he was cool in his dysfunctional way, and we loved it when he didn’t compromise himself and yet got the girl on his own terms.
But what would have happened to him if he hadn’t got the girl at all?
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) is the older version of that John Cusack hero.
- 9/14/2015
- Den of Geek
High school reunions are tough, especially if you're hiding something, as is the case in "Grosse Pointe Blank", starring John Cusack as Martin Q. Blank, a reluctant attendee to his 10-year reunion. A dark and very erratic comedy, "Blank" might fill in some seats for Buena Vista based on Cusack's casual charms, but the thin scenario ultimately implodes because of its lack of original firepower.
Cusack's insouciant manner is well-suited to the role of Blank, a lone-wolf personality who has prospered as a paid assassin. Martin's nimble sense of morality allows him to depersonalize his profession. Still, it's taking a psychological toll: He is getting sloppy with his hits and this is making some of his clients, as well as his rivals, a bit on the edgy side. Goaded by his secretary (Joan Cusack) as well as prompted by his fearful shrink (Alan Arkin) who simply wants him out of town and as far away as possible, Martin journeys to suburban Detroit for some auld lang syne at his 10-year reunion.
Unfortunately, a phalanx of four screenwriters (Tom Jankiewicz, D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack) can't some up with much original material on the awkwardness of a high school reunion for a chap in Martin's line of work.
We're presented with a lackluster batch of prototypical geeks and nerds, including the class bully as well as the usual sort of sellout who has made it big in local business.
Yet, the thinly drawn characters are so lame that Cusack's comic potential in putting them down is not properly developed. In short, the film's subversive sensibility is done in by its ultraconventionality.
Overall, the film centers on Cusack's attempt to reromance his prom date (Minnie Driver) who hosts a local radio show. In general, there's not much impetus for them to get together, so the scenario drifts into petty grievances each had with the other during high school. Ultimately, this comedy degenerates into a shoot-em-up in which the story's lack of wit is masked by sheer firepower (like the worst of action movies).
Despite the thin material and underwritten scripting, "Grosse Pointe Blank" does shell out some belly laughs, mainly some witty, offbeat dialogue that Cusack delivers with his shaggy snazz. While Cusack is not used to the full extent of his comic powers, other players acquit themselves well, particularly Arkin as a frazzled psychiatrist and Joan Cusack as the hit man's stressed-out assistant.
Under George Armitage's slack direction, "Grosse Pointe Blank" flounders, with wide patches of drone-on hysterics. The technical contributions, however, are strong, especially cinematographer Jamie Anderson's sizzlingly sinister lighting and Joe Strummer's smartly nasty musical score.
GROSSE POINTE BLANK
Buena Vista
Hollywood Pictures presents
In association with Caravan Pictures
A Roger Birnbaum & Roth/Arnold production
in association with New Crime Prods.
A George Armitage film
Producers Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth, Roger Birnbaum
Director George Armitage
Screenwriters Tom Jankiewicz,
D.V. DeVincentis,
Steve Pink, John Cusack
Story Tom Jankiewicz
Executive producers Jonathan Glickman,
Lata Ryan
Co-producers John Cusack, Steve Pink
Director of photography Jamie Anderson
Production designer Stephen Altman
Editor Brian Berdan
Costume designer Eugenie Bafaloukos
Music Joe Strummer
Casting Junie Lowry Johnson,
Ron Surma
Color/stereo
Cast:
Martin Q. Blank John Cusack
Debi Newberry Minnie Driver
Dr. Oatman Alan Arkin
Grocer Dan Aykroyd
Marcella Joan Cusack
Lardner Hank Azaria
McCullers K. Todd Freeman
Mr. Newberry Mitchell Ryan
Running time -- 106 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
Cusack's insouciant manner is well-suited to the role of Blank, a lone-wolf personality who has prospered as a paid assassin. Martin's nimble sense of morality allows him to depersonalize his profession. Still, it's taking a psychological toll: He is getting sloppy with his hits and this is making some of his clients, as well as his rivals, a bit on the edgy side. Goaded by his secretary (Joan Cusack) as well as prompted by his fearful shrink (Alan Arkin) who simply wants him out of town and as far away as possible, Martin journeys to suburban Detroit for some auld lang syne at his 10-year reunion.
Unfortunately, a phalanx of four screenwriters (Tom Jankiewicz, D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink, John Cusack) can't some up with much original material on the awkwardness of a high school reunion for a chap in Martin's line of work.
We're presented with a lackluster batch of prototypical geeks and nerds, including the class bully as well as the usual sort of sellout who has made it big in local business.
Yet, the thinly drawn characters are so lame that Cusack's comic potential in putting them down is not properly developed. In short, the film's subversive sensibility is done in by its ultraconventionality.
Overall, the film centers on Cusack's attempt to reromance his prom date (Minnie Driver) who hosts a local radio show. In general, there's not much impetus for them to get together, so the scenario drifts into petty grievances each had with the other during high school. Ultimately, this comedy degenerates into a shoot-em-up in which the story's lack of wit is masked by sheer firepower (like the worst of action movies).
Despite the thin material and underwritten scripting, "Grosse Pointe Blank" does shell out some belly laughs, mainly some witty, offbeat dialogue that Cusack delivers with his shaggy snazz. While Cusack is not used to the full extent of his comic powers, other players acquit themselves well, particularly Arkin as a frazzled psychiatrist and Joan Cusack as the hit man's stressed-out assistant.
Under George Armitage's slack direction, "Grosse Pointe Blank" flounders, with wide patches of drone-on hysterics. The technical contributions, however, are strong, especially cinematographer Jamie Anderson's sizzlingly sinister lighting and Joe Strummer's smartly nasty musical score.
GROSSE POINTE BLANK
Buena Vista
Hollywood Pictures presents
In association with Caravan Pictures
A Roger Birnbaum & Roth/Arnold production
in association with New Crime Prods.
A George Armitage film
Producers Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth, Roger Birnbaum
Director George Armitage
Screenwriters Tom Jankiewicz,
D.V. DeVincentis,
Steve Pink, John Cusack
Story Tom Jankiewicz
Executive producers Jonathan Glickman,
Lata Ryan
Co-producers John Cusack, Steve Pink
Director of photography Jamie Anderson
Production designer Stephen Altman
Editor Brian Berdan
Costume designer Eugenie Bafaloukos
Music Joe Strummer
Casting Junie Lowry Johnson,
Ron Surma
Color/stereo
Cast:
Martin Q. Blank John Cusack
Debi Newberry Minnie Driver
Dr. Oatman Alan Arkin
Grocer Dan Aykroyd
Marcella Joan Cusack
Lardner Hank Azaria
McCullers K. Todd Freeman
Mr. Newberry Mitchell Ryan
Running time -- 106 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 3/24/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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