Grosse Pointe Blank


Director: George Armitage.

Starring: John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Cusack, Hank Azaria.

Well, it's been a long time between drinks but today is a red letter day: it's an HD movie! While Grosse Pointe Blank may not be to everybody's taste, this is a superb movie. Perhaps this movie isn't as daring visually as Romeo and Juliet but it does take a lot of risks, all of which succeed.

Grosse Pointe Blank tells the story of a contract killer (Mr. John Cusack) who returns to his high school reunion, since it co-ordinates with a job he has to do. Of course, there is an unresolved love interest (Ms. Minnie Driver) but everything has a little twist on it.

All the performances hit exactly the right note. Mr. John Cusack (I can't say Mr. Cusack since there are a plethora of Cusacks in this movie) is flawless as Martin Blank. He needs to play the cool assassin in a way that makes him endearing. Does that sound like a contradiction? Well, he manages to bring it off. His scene with the poet is splendid.

Ms. Driver, yet again, is magnificent. This is the third movie that I've seen with her in it and she has yet to make a false move. Even more enjoyable are the interactions between Ms. Driver and Mr. John Cusack. Although perhaps they connect a little too quickly, the way they play off each other is a constant joy to watch.

All the other players hold their own, even Ms. Joan Cusack who has a tendency to annoy me in movies. In Grosse Pointe Blank, her character is great, as too is the role played by Mr. Dan Aykroyd.

This is a very funny movie but be warned, it is quite black. After all, we are focusing on a hit man. There is murder and a small amount of gruesomeness. Perhaps it is disturbing in the sense that violence may desensitize the audience, especially the flippant way with which death is dealt: Martin on the phone in the middle of a hit; chatting about unions during a shoot-out; the fact that being a hit-man is portrayed as cool. I guess my response to that is that well acted, incredibly funny violent movies are ok, while badly acted, ponderous violent movies are damaging.

Does Grosse Pointe Blank have anything valuable to say? Probably not. If I stretch the imagination a bit, I could argue that it is about conscience and guilt and the need to resolve issues. Ultimately, however, I think it is just a really funny, well acted movie whose basic message is that this is how black comedies should be done.

Rating: HD

© Nikki Lesley 1997