|  DJ:
This fine month, we're taking a look at the 1996 John Cusack
comedy Grosse Pointe Blank, the story of a hitman
returning to his home town he abandoned on his senior prom
night for his 10 year class reunion. Hijinks ensue. I love
the rapid fire dialogue and black humor of this flick.
Dustin: Great, except that it was actually
a 1997 release. Man, look at me with the check right at the
start!
DJ: Goddammit! They're the class of 1996!
It confused me!
Dustin: I'm actually still am not sure how
I felt about this movie.
DJ: What the hell you mean "not sure"?
Every character is quirky and interesting, cool suits, violence,
romance, action, comedy, John Cusack! What's missing, man?
Dustin: Yeah... I love me some John Cusack
as much as any other right-minded (hetero) male would, but
this just didn't click with me.
DJ: Alright. You're suspect.
Dustin: I didn't dislike it, but
I wasn't enthralled either.
DJ: From here on out, your taste in movies
shall be taken with a grain of salt.
Dustin: Oh really? Perhaps you'd like to
just sit over there and do this column by yourself, since
your tastes are so impeccable? I'll just sit over here and
nod with blind enthusiasm with your almighty opinions.
DJ: ...
Dustin: Please, by all means. Go for it.
DJ: I'm sorry, sugar. Don't be mad. I just
got sassy is all.
Dustin: No no, please. Enlighten the readers.
DJ: Well, I'm trying to figure out what you
might not like about it... I mean, is it the very interesting
and developed character of Martin Blank, played perfectly
by the aforementioned Cusack? Or his sister, Joan's turn as
his hilarious hitman assistant? Or perhaps it was Dan Aykroyd's
perfectly square and amusing turn as his chief competition,
trying to form a hitman union?
Dustin: You're asking questions. I can't
nod enthusiastically at questions.
DJ: They're opinions veiled in the form of
questions.
Dustin: (nods enthusiastically)
DJ: No, seriously. I love the tone, the soundtrack,
the acting... what didn't sit well with you?
Dustin: As I quite possibly indicated before,
I didn't dislike this at all... I just didn't fall in love
with it. I "liked" it.
DJ: Hmmm... I'm just disappointed you didn't
love it is all. Figured you would totally get into
the weird tale of redemption with great music like I did.
And fall for skinny ties. This made me want to wear skinny
ties for some reason. Oh, and be a hitman. Which I was no
good at, actually.
Dustin: Well, yes... the music actually was
really good. i was impressed at the soundtrack selection,
for sure, but that's almost a Cusack hallmark--good music
follows him around like a hyperactive puppy.
DJ: True.
Dustin: The man has fantastic taste in popular
music, and whenever he's got a hand in writing or production,
he makes sure that that you're hearing stuff like The Clash.
Man, there was even a Toots and the Maytals reference in the
film. That's a man who cares.
DJ: Yeah... same with High Fidelity,
especially. Actually, I feel that Grosse Pointe Blank
is part two in John Cusack's REALLY GOOD leading man in a
comedy-ish movie trilogy sandwiched by Say Anything
and the aforementioned High Fidelity.
Dustin: But damn it all, there as always
was Joan, acting as the Yang to John's amazing Yin. I swear
to God the two are actually conjoined siblings.
DJ: There are other Cusacks about in this
flick, too. It's a family affair.
Dustin: Now I should clarify, I don't mind
Joan all THAT much, but when you stack her against her brother,
it's like two different games. She's in that category of actors
that always seem to be more themselves than their characters...
like Tom Hanks.
DJ: Well, she's the most unhinged in this
one. And I like it. She's all manic while he's calm and collected.
At least he's trying to be.
Dustin: He's good at that. He can brood really
well, and the thing that amazes me is that he still projects
"cool" along with "brood." That's a hell
of a one-two punch to be able to throw if you're an actor.
Add that in with his, well... movie star good looks, and you've
got a guy who can really carry a lead role, be it drama or
comedy in this case.
DJ: And he's likeable even when being something
of a dick (see also, again, High Fidelity)... it's
to the extreme here, though. I love how this movie is about
a murderer for hire trying to find himself. Having trouble
justifying the horrendous things he does for a living... and
yet it's funny, and he's likable.
Dustin: One of the more subtle touches I
enjoyed in the writing is the fact that he just openly tells
people he's a professional killer, and that really doubles
as a cover, since no one really believes him.
DJ: "Do you get dental with that?"
It's a good running gag that works. Oh, and the Piven playing
the type of friend who will roll up a dead body in a tarp
and help you carry it down to the furnace. That's a loyal
fella.
Dustin: I think he was more in shock than
anything. It didn't come across to clearly.
DJ: Well, he didn't turn him in. Had a drink
with him afterward. I mean, it's shock, but at least he didn't
run off like Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver).
Dustin: In general, I wasn't that thrilled
with the casting in this. I am not a Minnie Driver fan at
all.
DJ: I liked her in this. But... what other
casting problem? Surely not Alan Arkin as the therapist. I
actually love this cast.
Dustin: Add that to the fact that Dan Aykroyd
was right for HIS role, but I don't feel that role was the
right thing for the film.
 DJ:
He's the opposite of Blank. It's perfect. They contrast each
other. They see their profession totally differently and end
up trying to kill each other, but don't really hate each other
or anything. I think it works perfectly. Especially with the
two NSA agents he has trailing Blank. He's a great "sorta"
villain.
Dustin: Nah, Aykroyd's character just doesn't
strike me as being "correct" for a killer. Although
I've not ever met one that I know of, so who am I to judge?
Maybe I've just never been convinced by Dan trying to play
the heavy in a film.
DJ: That's what I like about it. He doesn't
see himself as a bad guy. He's a goof. Just happens to be
a hired assassin. He's a well-rounded character. In fact,
every single character has something to do. No one falls flat
to me. Even the one scene-types.
Dustin: Robert Stack would've played that
much better. I can't remember if he was dead by that point.
DJ: No offense to the mighty Stack, but I
think that Aykroyd really owns that role. Although he wanted
originally to play it really effeminate with some weird accent...
I'm glad he was talked out of that.
Dustin: Oh, speaking of "one scene"
characters, the one line in the movie that I actually laughed
out loud at: Cusack has just saved a convenience store clerk
from a massive explosion and asks the guy if he's alright.
"No, I'm not alright! I'm hurt, I'm pissed, and I've
got to find a new job!"
DJ: I love his weak lil' shove and huffy
attitude. That is a good scene. But, overall, not that fun
to you, eh? Too many different tones maybe?
Dustin: Stop painting it like I didn't enjoy
it... I liked it, the overall experience was a good one. But
I felt that there was something missing that really propelled
the thing to a higher level. It wasn't pacing, that was fine.
I don't really think the writing was suspect... I really think
that the casting just didn't gel for me.
DJ: I just thought you'd be all, "Oh
yeah!" and we'd dance around, in love with the same movie
is all.
Dustin: Would I watch it again? Sure thing.
Would I own it? Eh... maybe if I found it for five bucks.
DJ: The cheapest I've found is ten, so...
I guess it won't be added to your collection, my good man.
And if you do find it for five, I'll be pissed because, you
know, I shelled out ten.
Dustin: I was going to say something unnecessarily
mean... but I won't.
DJ: What??? What was it? Why the mean? Now
I must know.
Dustin: Oh, I was going to make some kind
of crack about you being fat and a lummox. But then I felt
that it was beneath me to do so.
DJ: While little is beneath you, I don't
see how calling me a fat lummox, while arguably true, would
be applicable to this oddly antagonistic dialogue about Grosse
Pointe Blank. And what's with your love of the word "lummox"?
Particularly when describing me? It's hard not to cry.
Dustin: Yeah, that's why I didn't do it.
And plus there's not really any point in me taking shots that
are that easy. Let's face it--in the world of clay pigeons,
you're kind of a lead albatross. It'd be way too easy to hit
you... POINT BLANK!!!
DJ: Oh... my ... good... lord... Part of
me just died inside. You really went for that one, didn't
you?
Dustin: See, that was clever. You can learn
from watching me. Don't do drugs.
DJ: Alcohol is a drug, Dustin. Don't let
anyone tell you differently.
Dustin: Are we done?
DJ: Wait for it... Wait for it... waaait...
uh... Okay.
Dustin: Nice.
DJ: Heh.
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