::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 35 kb ((•)) 10 kb Popcorn! Grocer wants Blank to join the Hitman's Union he's forming. Blank declines... Grocer persists, pooring on the obnoxiousness and non-sequiturs. Many would agree that Dan Aykroyd has chosen some shitty roles for movies in the past, but this isn't one of them. Grocer is a shining asshole. I guess it makes sense to have a hitman who would enjoy his work too much. 01 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 72 kb ((•)) 74 kb It's as if everyone had swelled Marcella tries to convince Blank to attend his high school reunion. In a later scene she explains that he really has no choice in the matter. Two time academy award nominee Joan Cusack - rocks! My favorite character in the movie. Part secretary, part mother, part agent, and part sister to John Cusack's character. Joan Cusack does quirky so well. Nobody could peek around a corner weirder than she does. 02 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 23 kb ((•)) 110 kb ((•)) 65 kb That wasn't designed to make me feel good Blank pays a visit to his shrink Dr. Oatman to get advice about the reunion and life. Oatman is less than thrilled to have Blank as a returning patient. Alan Arkin does a whole introspective pschoramble on himself that's brilliant (2nd clip). I think John Cusack loved it too. See that smile? - I think that's the actor smirking, not the character. Maybe someday I'll get the chance to ask those involved if that's true. 03 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 60 kb We love tough guys like you Debbie puts Blank in the hot seat on her live radio show. Should I forgive him for disappearing for 10 years? Special agent Lardner (NSA) gets bored and decides to call the show to f* with Blank. Hank Azaria is the best Simpsons voice guy. It's always nice to see him on screen, even in a small role. 04 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 30 kb Ten Years!!! Blank runs into his high school stoner chum, Paul Spericki. Paul is curious where Blank's been all this time. Jeremey Piven making a memorable scene with just two words. According to the bios, Cusack and Piven grew up and studied acting together. 05 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 23 kb I'm hurt, I'm pissed... In an attempt to kill Blank, Felix the assassin plants a bomb in the Ultimart. But Blank manages to flee just in time and exchanges some words with a disgruntled employee of the Ultimart. It's obligatory to have some good one liners after a big 'ol explosion. They are best when stated by a convenience store cashier. 06 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 33 kb You know what you need?... Shakubuku Blank finally gets some quality time with Debbie. Apparently Shakubuku is a Buddhist term. Apparently I wasn't the only one who took notice of the line in the movie. CLICK HERE. 07 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 68 kb Why don't you just go and shoot the fucker? In a restaurant bathroom, Blank glibbly chats with the NSA agents who are following him. Grocer hides in the stall. After Blank leaves, the NSA agents f* with Grocer. I guess government agents probably have a lot of down time, so they have to do something to amuse themselves. I like Agent McCuller's laugh. 08 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 39 kb Sir, I'm beginning to worry about your safety Blank still hasn't done his hired hit. He touches base with Marcella and tries to figure out just how many people are out to kill him in his hometown. At this point, Blank still clings to his philosiphies of fatalism and the essential pointlessness of life. This movie's got all the fun and violence plus a nice character arc to boot. 09 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 83 kb I'm flying! Be free... Blank pays Debbie a visit at her house to ask her to be his date at the reunion. She's a little hesitant considering he ditched her on prom night 10 years ago. If you're wondering what Debbie is saying at one point, it's "emancipation". Minnie Driver's Detroit accent and American silliness is so good, she becomes unintelligible. 10 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 43 kb ((•)) 30 kb ((•)) 41 kb Bullet hole in your fucking forehead Grocer makes one final appeal to Blank to join his union. They face each other at a diner with guns held under the table. Great dialogue ensues. Another awesome scene with Dan Aykroyd. I had to watch it a few times to really pick up all the awesomeness. It is my theory that the black cap Martin wears, is an homage to Kevin Kline's hitman character in "A Fish Called Wanda" (which Kline won an Oscar for). The hats are a little bit different, but ... you be the judge. 11 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 32 kb ((•)) 78 kb ((•)) 49 kb Sorry, you slipped And finally, the reunion. Blank and Debbie run across names and faces from the past. Most things are revealed through subtext. Viewers can fill in the gaps because everybody has had experiences with "that guy" in highschool. 1st clip. Startled, Blank mistakenly subdues an overly-excited classmate. "Sorry, you slipped." Haw. 2nd clip. Jeremy Piven's character has to repeat himself four times before being heard - so telling. 3rd clip. A moment of sincerity and shakubu as Blank meets Robbie the baby. Sounds of Queen and Bowie reverbrate through the air - kickbutt soundtrack. 12 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 75 kb ((•)) 76 kb It's not me... Debbie catches Blank shortly after he has messily killed Felix the assassin. Later, Paul helps Blank clean up the mess. Tag it and bag it. Blank says, "It's not me." several times throughout the movie. Here he might mean it was self-defense. In a broader context, it reflects Blank's loose views of morality and responsibility which stem from his aforementioned philosophies. Oh, and more cool soundtrack. The brutal confrontation between Blank and Felix is some of the best looking hand to hand combat on film. That's one of the things that makes this movie so great - the comedy and violence are pushed to the extremes. Eventually, I'll provide a video clip of the fight. 13 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 41 kb ((•)) 19 kb Psychopath kills for no reason, I kill for money Debbie confronts Blank about the whole killing thing. Although truthful, the explainations don't fly so well. Blank has a pretty interesting speel here. And Cusack does a great job with it. You'll have to watch the movie to hear the whole thing. 14 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 71 kb ((•)) 83 kb All right!!! Blank has been saying this would be his last job. So Marcella is busy closing-up shop. Blank calls in to give her a nice block of cash for severance. More Joan Cusack doing her thing. Her reading of "All right!" is unique, yet so appropriate. Have I mentioned she rocks? It's true. 15 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 36 kb ((•)) 44 kb ((•)) 59 kb I realized finally... I wanted to kill somebody Revelations. Blank finally opens his dosier and it turns out his hit assignment was Debbie's father. Later, Blank explains his past actions and conjectures about the new notions that are starting to settle in. I've read some reviews with people having problems with the ending - too Hollywood, too contrived, too blam blam. I don't think that's the problem though. I just think it was a little rushed into. In fact... (see next comment) 16 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 39 kb ((•)) 52 kb *plang* *blam blam blam* The big shootout. Everybody shows up and everybody rushes to their respective destinies. Here we've got Blank talking about his epiphany and heartfelt love while blowing people away. Fucking awesome! And if you watch it a few times, you'll see how carefully staged and well-crafted the scene was. Screw you critics. 17 ::::::::::::::::::::: ((•)) 168 kb Forget about forgive Debbie gets the last words of the story with a pre-recorded monologue on her radio show as she and Blank leave town and cruise off into the sunset. I personally like happy endings. And it's even better when I'm high as a kite and all strung out. 18