MovieChat Forums > Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) Discussion > The Thought-a-Doughnut Thread

The Thought-a-Doughnut Thread

posted 8 years ago by abishai_gangulee
7 replies | jump to latest

This is a witty and clever little American film about a witty and pensive hitman named Martin (John Cusack) who takes an assassination-assignment in his hometown during his high school reunion weekend and reconnects with his high school sweetheart Debbie (Minnie Driver) and comes to terms with some oddball emotions, community values hi-jinx, and nefarious hitman death-traps.

John Cusack is perfect in this, and Minnie Driver is the right girlfriend casted.

This is one of my favorite films, since it nicely incorporates human emotions into an offbeat 'realism' drama.

If you went to your high school reunion, would you want to be a celebrity or a killer? A strange but funny question this movie 'dares' to explore (psychologically, culturally, and pseudo-psychotically).

I'm going on a one-week vacation (with my iPad) and plan to watch this colorful film once-a-day (during my other R&R activities --- champagne, swimming, reading, etc.) and post a thought-a-day about this movie (perhaps).

So here's my first thought/question: "What's the difference between Jeffrey Dahmer and James Bond? Answer: Romance!"

The film-editing and soundtrack are awesome, so I give this under-appreciated American film 3/5 stars, but only since I would give only a David Lean 'masterpiece-theater' film such as Doctor Zhivago 5/5 stars.

====

MARTIN: Good to see you!
DEBBIE: After you abandoned me 10 years ago!
MARTIN: I'm a professional killer (a hitman).
DEBBIE: Good to know.
MARTIN: I had some pseudo-political assignments.
DEBBIE: My father will be relieved.
MARTIN: It's not like I'm Cobra Commander!
DEBBIE: What's so sweet about Snake Eyes?

====

😷

[–] abishai_gangulee 8 years ago

PAUL: So, what have you been doing for the last 10 years, old buddy?
MARTIN: I've been chasing Leatherface.
PAUL: How're the fringe benefits for that prestigious position?
MARTIN: I get great dental but terrible theft insurance!
PAUL: Well, I'm in real estate, so that's pretty boring.
MARTIN: There's nothing glamorous about destroying Leatherface.
PAUL: That chainsaw of his is rather Freudian.
MARTIN: Indeed!

{This is not actually from the real screenplay}

: )

[–] abishai_gangulee 8 years ago

Martin is a true 'anti-hero.'

Maybe we think it's *cool* to be an assassin, since 'social etiquette' is so damn challenging!

: )

[–] abishai_gangulee 8 years ago

My best memory of high school was befriending people I didn't think I'd get along with.

I really wonder where some of these people (whom I've lost touch with) are now.

Have any of them become CIA operatives?

: )

[–] abishai_gangulee 8 years ago

Minnie Driver was perfect in this as a smart American woman who becomes a savvy hometown radio-DJ.

Would I be more interested in a woman who was 'tech-savvy' or 'media-savvy'?

: )

[–] abishai_gangulee 8 years ago

Martin's best friend Paul provides the 'assassin-returned-home' a sense of spiritual grounding, which is helpful to him as he starts to rebuild bridges with his high-school sweetheart Debbie.

That's a lot of human scripting for a...killer!

Do people have these thoughts out loud? Maybe psychos.

Interesting stuff...

: )

[–] MoviemanCin 8 years ago

You certainly seem to have a lot of interesting thoughts, abishai.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6543) 2 months ago

I don't think the movie is actually asking that. The two characters - Martin and Debi - are not in competition.