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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. This 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 humor is dark and brightly colored at the same time. Cusack and Driver are utterly charming--as is the leading man's sister, Joan, who plays his secretary. (Ms. Cusack received an Oscar nomination for her next role, in In & Out.) Alan Arkin is also very funny as Martin's psychiatrist. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Great Movie, terrible DVD
Grosse Pointe Blank is an unusual movie. A professional hitman returns to his hometown to "do a job" and, while he's there, attend his 10 year highschool reunion. John Cusack plays the role well, charming and remarkably likeable, despite his profession. This "dark comedy" is very clever, and I rate it as one my favorite 90's films.

Too bad the DVD isn't up to par. It has next to zero extras. But even that could be passable if the picture was good. First of all, the movie is non-anamorphic. That doesn't make a difference unless you have a 16x9 television, it'll look the same on a regular tv, it's just a pet peeve of mine. But, the transfer we did get is just pathetic; it looks like a (bad) laser disc transfer. The picture is grainy, and there are some definite compression artifacts to been seen.

Bottom line: this DVD is worth buying for the movie, no doubt... and since this is the only version available, it's this or nothing. Just don't expect a really terrific picture.

Pure genius starring John Cusack
Martin Q. Blank is a hitman about to attend his 10-year high school reunion and face the prom date he ditched a decade ago. He has people out to kill him as he returns to Grosse Point, MI to attend these festivities and revisit his past.

His childhood home is now a quickie-mart, where there is a massive shoot-out (I love that the bullets hit a cut-out of the stars of "Pulp Fiction", a movie rife with shoot-outs.) When Martin asks the store clerk is all right, he yells "NO! I'm scared, I'm hurt and I have to find a new job!"

Minnie Driver is excellent as Debi, the jilted date and current radio DJ, who gets back at him on-air. The soundtrack is great, with Bowie's "Under Pressure", the Violent Femmes "Blister in the Sun", and great 1980s songs for their big reunion.

Reunion phobiacs unite, utterly hilarious!
Cusack shines yet again in the dark comedy set around Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Martin Blank (Cusack) is a contract killer having a bout of emptiness. His secretary (played superbly by sister Joan Cusack) corralls him into heading home just in time for his 10-year high school reunion. Who is he afraid to see there, another killer or fellow cronie? No, it's his high school prom date Minnie Driver! (Speaking of cronies, though, Dan Aykroid plays one of his best roles ever as Grocer, the competing hitman trying to form a 'union' of sorts).

From the reminiscing with old friends, to the rekindling of a relationship, to the way the town has changed, and to the current contract in Grosse Pointe, this truly dark comedy deliver big time with dry one-liners, clever and witty banter, odd and embarassing situations, and a visit back to high school days and faces once forgotten. Anyone who has even run into an old classmate from school will definitely find this movie hilarious and poignant. The soundtrack is also outstanding featuring many of the hits from the mid-80s and worked in cleverly into the plot and scenes. (Keep an ear/eye open for Queen's "Under Pressure" and the way the lyrics and the movie itself seem to marry perfectly).

(Disclaimer: for those of you who might be concerned, there is a good deal of foul language, some violent scenes, and minor sexual situations. Otherwise, if that doesn't bother you much, definitely one to add to your collection).

Overall, a tremendous movie with great action, universal themes of reunion along with the related phobias and hijinx, hilarious wit, and excellent acting all around. Truly one of the funniest movies that Cusack has made and quite possibly his most amusing role to date. Enjoy!

It's a BIG HIT
Grosse Pointe Blank is probably ranked in my list as one of the best dark comedies of all time. If you haven't seen it, just think, "Pulp Fiction" meets "satire," with a little bit of typical "John Cusack-ness" sprinkled in here and there. (Still, Minnie Driver's character is no match for Mia Wallace in my humble opinion.)

It kind of makes you wonder what really goes through the minds of these so-called real-life "assassins" that exist in the world. Although I'm sure that it's certainly not quite a comedic vocation as portrayed in the film. Nonetheless, it's fascinating and it keeps the viewer sitting on the edge of their seat wanting more. I think that's why this movie worked. Who would of ever thought of making a farce out of something so mundane as a hitman going through a midlife crisis? John Cusack's quirky persona really makes Grosse Pointe Blank, well, Grosse Pointe Blank. On top of that, the ten year high school reunion adds yet another intricate twist in the storyline. I felt as though I had stepped into a time portal that took me back to the era of materialims, The Clash/punk rock, Sixteen Candles, side ponny tails and leg warmers, as with other fashion mishaps.

The dailogue, as funny as it is, really makes you think -which isn't always the easiest thing to do in a film. For example, one of my favorie lines is when Debi questions: "Where are all the good men dead, in the heart or in the head?" Let's just say, I ask myself the same thing...

Probably Cusack's Best Film
This is, for me anyway, the best film Cusack has done. It's filled with a certain realism that you don't find in many films. This is odd because the film is primarily a comedy. Black comedy, mind you, but comedy nonetheless.

Background - Martin Blank (Cusack) is a contract hit-man ten years after his high school graduation. He's lost his taste for 'the business' and wants out. He received an invite to his high school reunion but doesn't initially want to attend. Almost simultaneously, he gets a contract to take out someone in his home town. He decides to kill two birds with one stone and do both. Little does he know that a contract has been put out on him as well.

Story - Blank freaked out at the end of high school and joined the army where he learned to kill. He was loaned out to the CIA where he served as a hit-man before going solo. After ten years of the stuff, he's had his fill and wants out. A fellow hit-man (Dan Aykroyd) Grosser, wants to form a 'Hit-man union' of sorts. Blank declines, so Grosser puts a contract out on him. The film follows Blank as he seeks out his high school sweetheart, avoids assassination attempts, and tries to complete his last hit, which has an interesting twist.

Why I like this film - The conversations Cusack has with the other characters, as well as with himself, are priceless. The dialog is disjointed, much like a real conversation you might have.

Another thing that I liked was the realism of the fight scenes. I'm tired of watching movie fights where the hero and villains trade punches to the face, and neither of them have any blood on them. In one scene in particular, the fight lasts all of a minute (pretty real for a streetfight) and both characters as bloodies and sweating profusely. Very realistic, indeed.

This film is not for people who don't like action, as it's filled with it. Younger children probably shouldn't watch it either because of the excessive violence. Fans of Cusack should like it, as it's filled with intelligent humor. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Oh my god this is the worst movie i've ever seen
First of all you must understand my love for Owen Wilson, I find his movies to be hilarious, Starsky and Hutch, Zoolander, I mean come on. Morgan Freeman has also been in like a billion awesome movies, Shawshank Redemption, Robin Hood, Driving Miss Daisy, so don't get me wrong when you see my title, my anger is not at them. This movie was however the lamest, most boring, and stupid movie I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of bad movies, I don't know if I laughed at all after the first 5 minutes. Charlie Sheen put in what could be considered the worst acting I've ever seen, his character was so stupid, so(...) stupid, Gary Sinese could have been replaced by a tape recorder filled with typical mean bad guy phrases like "find my money" or "get off my island or else", gee what more is there? I swear to god that I don't know if I was supposed to laugh at the ending or not, words cannot describe how I felt after it was all over. In the end I was just saddened as to why such good actors would be associated with this garbage, anyone who liked this movie needs help, or must be a Jimmy Fallon fan or something

A very good show!
The story is a humorous view of those who live by their wits. It pokes fun at greedy people, over zealous types, and has an outstanding plot.

I've seen it twice and want to buy the DVD and poster.

It will become a cult classic like "Strange Brew" did.

Elmore Leonard lite
THE BIG BOUNCE is a moderately entertaining caper comedy about two misfits (Owen Wilson and Sara Foster) trying to scam a sleazy developer (Gary Sinise) out of $200K. The film is based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, who as usual takes as much (if not more) pleasure in the planning than in the actual crime.
The film certainly takes the planning more seriously. The actual crime feels tacked on in a rush at the end. This movie will be a treat for Owen Wilson fans, it's a showcase for his mildly stoned insouciance. Model-turned-actress Foster is very beautiful and suitably pouty. A large number of eccentric characters populate the Hawaiian setting, most notably a relaxed Morgan Freeman as a judge/landlord. What's missing from THE BIG BOUNCE is danger and suspense, and any hint that any of the characters is actually a criminal. The plot to rip of Sinise's character is treated with the seriousness of a practical joke.The supporting cast also includes Charlie Sheen, Bebe Neuwirth, Vinnie Jones, Willie Nelson and Harry Dean Stanton.
Still, Owen Wilson is a fine comic actor, and THE BIG BOUNCE is a low key good time, a good way to kill a Saturday afternoon.

One Man, One Women, Countless Cons!
I really like the films that Owen Wilson pick. "I Spy," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Shanghai Knights," and "Meet the Parents," just to name a couple. Then there is "The Big Bounce" which is a movie based on a book by the same name by crime novelist Elemore Leonard. I have not read the book to compare, and I wouldn't compare because if I had read the book, I would have watched the movie thinking that the book never was written. The only downfall with "The Big Bounce" was that the movie was very short. There could have been a little more added. I also relized that half of the trailer was not even in the movie. The movie couldn't have been longer than eighty-five minutes, and I thought that it would be longer. But I did really like it, nonetheless, because the big question during the movie is "Who's Scamming Who?" There were so many cons going on during this movie that it was always exciting because you knew there had to be another one coming.

The movie had Owen Wilson as Jack Ryan a small criminal(or a matchstick man) who is working at a constuction site for Ray Ritchie. As the locals protest the land being destroyed, Jack gets into a fight with Lou the foreman, and ends up hitting him over the head with a baseball bat. Jack is let out of jail and is hired by Judge Walter, to be a handyman at a motel that he owns. Jack then meets Nancy, a myserious beautful girl who is involved with Ray, dispite he being married to Alison, who is out of town. Nancy and jack spend time together, and she eventually asks him to help her steal $200,000 from a safe in Ray's lodge. Ray's right hand man Bob Jr., who is married, also becomes interested in Nancy, and wants Jack off the island. Jack falls deeper and deeper into love with Nancy, and they both prepare for the big heist. But they also run into a couple of unexpected surprises, when the people they know and trust are not exactly what they seem.

The ending of "The Big Bounce" was both obvious and also surprising. It ended the way that I thought it would, but it also had an added twist. I thought that Owen Wilson was perfect for the role of Jack Ryan because he works well as a criminal. He looks like somebody that you could trust, if he has to play you during a job. The same goes for his actor brother Luke Wilson. I liked seeing them side by side in "The Royal Tenenbaums," but this movie proves once again that Owen Wilson could act alone. Morgan Freeman was good in this movie, but when is he isn't. Sara Foster, who plays Nancy, is making this her first motion picture, but there is probally a big future for her in movies. The supporting cast includes Bebe Neuworth, Gary Sinese, Charlie Sheen, and Vinnie Jones, and all of them workd perfectly off everybody else.

Throughtout just about all the movie, you could see landscapes of Hawaii, where the movie takes place. It takes up alot of the time in the movie. but by watching them you could see why Jack does not want to get off of the island that Ray wants him to. "The Big Bounce" was a very good movie, with a great cast, and a great story. I am looking forward to reading the book. I could already tell that this is going to be one of those movies that nobody sees, but many people love, like "Death to Smoochy," and "Big Trouble." Go see "The Big Bounce," and don't listen to the critics. It was a great heist film.

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and nudity, violence and language.

Wilson (a great actor) lost in this movie
i really wanted to see this movie and within the first 35 minutes those feelings stayed true. after that though everthing fell apart. even an excellent actor like Wilson couldn't keep this movie together after that. i'm guessing much of this film was left on the cutting room floor and either the director or editor forgot to watch the completed version before sending it to you and i. far to many gaps are included here making one wonder...how are they contected and where did that come from. an intelligent movier-goer can make "leaps of faith", but one should never be asked to jump a between to mountain ranges without some hope of survival. after saying all this, the ending was the worse. the real wrap up. without giving anything away one character who's been killed is just left in the wind, and we are left to guess who was pinned for that. with such an open ending one would guess there could be a sequel...i doubt it. this movie has amature written all over it. too bad amazing stars like Wilson and Freeman let something like this hit the movie screens without having it tweeked. if you doubt this review and see the movie anyhow...be sure to watch some of the surfing scences. it looks as if they took shots from something else, something with far less quality, and just added them with no reguard. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

a great dark comedy!
I bought this dvd at the same time I bought To Live and Die in L.a. and really enjoy both movies. This is a very under-rated movie that has comedy, action and quasi-romance. The acting is great and there is not one bad scene in the movie. The dvd is a little disappointing in that it has absolutely no extras, unlike To Live and Die in L.a., which has great extras. The movie more than makes up for that though and can be enjoyed again and again. I put it in the same league as The Way of the Gun, True Romance, and Reservoir Dogs. If you like that kind of violent comedy, this is for you...

cool
when i noticed this movie on tv i decided to give it a chance. boy was i happy about that. it's a really good action movie. i've never seen better acting in a action movie. i'm usually into those buddy cop movies. well i liked this allot and will probably buy it.

This movie rocks
Just an all around great movie. The directing is outstanding and you are never bored. Alec Baldwin does a superb job of portraying a Pysco criminal.

Sleeper Which Knocks Your Socks Off
Never writing a review of one of my favorite movies is a major oversight on my part. "Miami Blues," adapted from a book by Charles Willeford, is a movie which has great impact. Alec Baldwin portrays Frederic Frenger Jr. (aka "Junior"), a man whose middle name should be "Trouble." He is a person capable of anything at any time. Arriving in Florida after his release from prison, Frenger instantly starts up with his modus operandi. Forging some documents in order to attain someone else's identity (the drugged Herman Gottlieb), he walks through the airport and is confronted by a Hari Krishni member; without hesitation, Junior breaks one of the man's fingers. The man dies. This sets up the plot. Frenger is now wanted for homicide. We are introduced to Hoke Mosely, a nicely drawn character. He's a career cop out to get to the bottom of the Hari Krishna's demise. He's told someone with a "suede sportcoat" was the culprit -- this is Junior in Herman Gottlieb's clothing.

We find Junior shacked up in a seedy hotel, where he hooks up with Jennifer Jason Leigh's character, Susie. She's a simple gal from Florida who is working her way through college engaged in the "oldest profession." They take to each other instantly and decide to move in together. As a newly formed couple, the dialogue between the conniving psychopath and the honest prostitute with a heart of gold is hilarious as they talk about their future ... with Mosely hot on the trail.

Won't give anymore details except to say this movie will not disappoint. Solid performances of well-drawn characters. Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Fred Ward (as Sgt. Hoke Mosely) are exceptional. Look for Paul Gleason (of "The Breakfast Club" and "Trading Places") as a crooked cop. As usual, his trademark style and character are very entertaining.

Miami Blues: A movie to buy, see again every so often, and discuss with friends.

"I fired a warning shot... and it hit ya!"
Set in the backdrop of early 90s Miami pastel and art deco, this intelligent movie mandates your full attention. Most of the hilarious scenes in Miami Blues can be overlooked if you blink at the wrong moment, which is good for watching the minute details over and over. The gags are quick... and when they happen, they're gone.
I can't comment on Alec Baldwin's "tight black shorts" response of one male reviewer since I am not a homosexual. Pufties notwithstanding, this is a great movie with a great ending. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Oh my god this is the worst movie i've ever seen
First of all you must understand my love for Owen Wilson, I find his movies to be hilarious, Starsky and Hutch, Zoolander, I mean come on. Morgan Freeman has also been in like a billion awesome movies, Shawshank Redemption, Robin Hood, Driving Miss Daisy, so don't get me wrong when you see my title, my anger is not at them. This movie was however the lamest, most boring, and stupid movie I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of bad movies, I don't know if I laughed at all after the first 5 minutes. Charlie Sheen put in what could be considered the worst acting I've ever seen, his character was so stupid, so(...) stupid, Gary Sinese could have been replaced by a tape recorder filled with typical mean bad guy phrases like "find my money" or "get off my island or else", gee what more is there? I swear to god that I don't know if I was supposed to laugh at the ending or not, words cannot describe how I felt after it was all over. In the end I was just saddened as to why such good actors would be associated with this garbage, anyone who liked this movie needs help, or must be a Jimmy Fallon fan or something

A very good show!
The story is a humorous view of those who live by their wits. It pokes fun at greedy people, over zealous types, and has an outstanding plot.

I've seen it twice and want to buy the DVD and poster.

It will become a cult classic like "Strange Brew" did.

Elmore Leonard lite
THE BIG BOUNCE is a moderately entertaining caper comedy about two misfits (Owen Wilson and Sara Foster) trying to scam a sleazy developer (Gary Sinise) out of $200K. The film is based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, who as usual takes as much (if not more) pleasure in the planning than in the actual crime.
The film certainly takes the planning more seriously. The actual crime feels tacked on in a rush at the end. This movie will be a treat for Owen Wilson fans, it's a showcase for his mildly stoned insouciance. Model-turned-actress Foster is very beautiful and suitably pouty. A large number of eccentric characters populate the Hawaiian setting, most notably a relaxed Morgan Freeman as a judge/landlord. What's missing from THE BIG BOUNCE is danger and suspense, and any hint that any of the characters is actually a criminal. The plot to rip of Sinise's character is treated with the seriousness of a practical joke.The supporting cast also includes Charlie Sheen, Bebe Neuwirth, Vinnie Jones, Willie Nelson and Harry Dean Stanton.
Still, Owen Wilson is a fine comic actor, and THE BIG BOUNCE is a low key good time, a good way to kill a Saturday afternoon.

One Man, One Women, Countless Cons!
I really like the films that Owen Wilson pick. "I Spy," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "Shanghai Knights," and "Meet the Parents," just to name a couple. Then there is "The Big Bounce" which is a movie based on a book by the same name by crime novelist Elemore Leonard. I have not read the book to compare, and I wouldn't compare because if I had read the book, I would have watched the movie thinking that the book never was written. The only downfall with "The Big Bounce" was that the movie was very short. There could have been a little more added. I also relized that half of the trailer was not even in the movie. The movie couldn't have been longer than eighty-five minutes, and I thought that it would be longer. But I did really like it, nonetheless, because the big question during the movie is "Who's Scamming Who?" There were so many cons going on during this movie that it was always exciting because you knew there had to be another one coming.

The movie had Owen Wilson as Jack Ryan a small criminal(or a matchstick man) who is working at a constuction site for Ray Ritchie. As the locals protest the land being destroyed, Jack gets into a fight with Lou the foreman, and ends up hitting him over the head with a baseball bat. Jack is let out of jail and is hired by Judge Walter, to be a handyman at a motel that he owns. Jack then meets Nancy, a myserious beautful girl who is involved with Ray, dispite he being married to Alison, who is out of town. Nancy and jack spend time together, and she eventually asks him to help her steal $200,000 from a safe in Ray's lodge. Ray's right hand man Bob Jr., who is married, also becomes interested in Nancy, and wants Jack off the island. Jack falls deeper and deeper into love with Nancy, and they both prepare for the big heist. But they also run into a couple of unexpected surprises, when the people they know and trust are not exactly what they seem.

The ending of "The Big Bounce" was both obvious and also surprising. It ended the way that I thought it would, but it also had an added twist. I thought that Owen Wilson was perfect for the role of Jack Ryan because he works well as a criminal. He looks like somebody that you could trust, if he has to play you during a job. The same goes for his actor brother Luke Wilson. I liked seeing them side by side in "The Royal Tenenbaums," but this movie proves once again that Owen Wilson could act alone. Morgan Freeman was good in this movie, but when is he isn't. Sara Foster, who plays Nancy, is making this her first motion picture, but there is probally a big future for her in movies. The supporting cast includes Bebe Neuworth, Gary Sinese, Charlie Sheen, and Vinnie Jones, and all of them workd perfectly off everybody else.

Throughtout just about all the movie, you could see landscapes of Hawaii, where the movie takes place. It takes up alot of the time in the movie. but by watching them you could see why Jack does not want to get off of the island that Ray wants him to. "The Big Bounce" was a very good movie, with a great cast, and a great story. I am looking forward to reading the book. I could already tell that this is going to be one of those movies that nobody sees, but many people love, like "Death to Smoochy," and "Big Trouble." Go see "The Big Bounce," and don't listen to the critics. It was a great heist film.

ENJOY!

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and nudity, violence and language.

Wilson (a great actor) lost in this movie
i really wanted to see this movie and within the first 35 minutes those feelings stayed true. after that though everthing fell apart. even an excellent actor like Wilson couldn't keep this movie together after that. i'm guessing much of this film was left on the cutting room floor and either the director or editor forgot to watch the completed version before sending it to you and i. far to many gaps are included here making one wonder...how are they contected and where did that come from. an intelligent movier-goer can make "leaps of faith", but one should never be asked to jump a between to mountain ranges without some hope of survival. after saying all this, the ending was the worse. the real wrap up. without giving anything away one character who's been killed is just left in the wind, and we are left to guess who was pinned for that. with such an open ending one would guess there could be a sequel...i doubt it. this movie has amature written all over it. too bad amazing stars like Wilson and Freeman let something like this hit the movie screens without having it tweeked. if you doubt this review and see the movie anyhow...be sure to watch some of the surfing scences. it looks as if they took shots from something else, something with far less quality, and just added them with no reguard. ... Read more