Grosse Pointe Blank

If in your moments of fiscal and emotional despair you suspect that in general people are twisted, especially yourself, then we bid you a hot welcome to Grosse Pointe Blank, because in this particular film world just about everyone is warped and also very bloody negative.

This is as you'd expect, in a super black comedy about a professional killer coming home to small town America (Grosse Point) for his High School, ten year, reunion, but that doesn't make the movie any kinder to the many fractured souls out there, no matter how clever the film might be.

But in its favour, and this is a huge consideration, Grosse Pointe Blank displays a vast intellignece and exhibits a cynical, Pulp Fiction morality that expects its audience to laugh loud at a heady mixture of spilt blood and warped souls.

Grosse Pointe Blank won't leave you with a warm glow about the world but at least it will convince you again that great writing, actors and directors still exist in the good ol' U.S. of A.

Just about all of the Cusack family are in Grosse Pointe Blank. John Cusack, as well as taking the lead role as Martin Blank the bored, slightly philosophical assassin, also co-produced and co-wrote the film.

His sister Joan plays a wonderfully twisted mouthed secretary for Martin and handles the research for her boss's murders, and then there's Ann and Bill Cusack in more minor roles.

The gorgeously talented Minnie Driver stars as Debi who was stood up ten years before by Martin; was stood up sitting on her porch in her $700 prom dress. She responded with mixed feelings and by running a retro music show for a local radio station.

She's not a whining, busted hearted former lover though. She reacts to his reappearance with the taut, up beat, technicolour, sexually charged madness which seems to be the norm for just about all of Martin's former class mates.

There's a manic lout of a besuited real estate agent, not to mention an armed security guard just busting for a shooting amongst his old school buddies, but that's nothing compared to the assorted madmen Martin brings into town with him, because there's a whole troup of nasties who for various reasons want Martin dead.

They're headed by Grocer played by Dan Akroyd, who looks ultra comfortable away from playing straight man to dumb dogs in the the Look Who's Talking films. Akroyd was born to be Grocer, with a pistol in each hand.

Grosse Pointe Blank sometimes becomes too convoluted, or perhaps too muffled for these confused ears but that's because of the chances it takes. Its rich and quick dialogue splits the air; stinging along like the dozens of bullets that seem to issue from each gun barrel, but still Grosse Pointe Blank keeps its shape; an uptight, funny, violent, spiky, smart form that bristles with irony.

The gun battles are mad and carefully choreographed and there's a hand to hand fight in a school corridor that is stunningly quick and vicious, and funny! Grosse Pointe Blank is a comedy of the blackest and best kind and is well worth a visit. Wear black.