The Minus Man (1999)
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60% of critics liked it
(35 reviews) -
42% of users liked it
(3,946 ratings)
Notable as the directorial debut of Blade Runner co-scripter Hampton Fancher, this darkly comic thriller stars affable Owen Wilson as Vann Siegert, a different brand of serial killer: one who actually believes he's doing his deeply depressed victims a service of mercy. Wandering up the West… More Notable as the directorial debut of Blade Runner co-scripter Hampton Fancher, this darkly comic thriller stars affable Owen Wilson as Vann Siegert, a different brand of serial killer: one who actually believes he's doing his deeply depressed victims a service of mercy. Wandering up the West Coast, Vann chooses victims from a parade of colorful social misfits -- including a haggard junkie (singer Sheryl Crow) whose pain he ends with a nip from his flask of poison amaretto -- and expounds on his motives with a pocket tape recorder (a drawling monologue that serves as the film's narrative voice-over). A brief layover in Owensville eventually finds Vann in the company of quarreling middle-aged couple Doug and Jane (Brian Cox and Mercedes Ruehl), who grow fond of the young drifter's amiable demeanor and take him on as a boarder. After landing a job at the local post office, Vann catches the eye of co-worker Ferrin (Janeane Garofalo), and a tentative romance blossoms -- but even love can't distract Vann from his crusade to terminate people's unhappiness: "They come to me like moths, because I shine," he explains. Though not the complex psychological game it purports to be, The Minus Man is an intriguing character study -- imagine a kindler, gentler version of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer -- with some clever twists and fine performances, including a touching portrayal from the usually acerbic Garofalo. Geared more to the art-movie crowd than to fans of Hitchcockian thrills, this film opened to raves at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- Hampton Fancher
- Written By
- Hampton Fancher
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Sep 10, 1999 Wide
- Studio
- Artisan Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Anton Bitel, Film4
A sociopathic serial poisoner provides everyone with the nihilistic zero they need in this intelligent and disheartening dramatic thriller for Generation Blank.
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Clint Morris, Moviehole
A powerful performance by Wilson....and believe me, you've never seen him like this!
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Fred Topel, About.com
Horrible character piece. Nothing happens and you don't care why.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Owen Wilson
as Vann Seigert
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Brian Cox
as Doug
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Mercedes Ruehl
as Jane
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Janeane Garofalo
as Ferrin
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Dwight Yoakam
as Blair
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Dennis Haysbert
as Graves
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Sheryl Crow
as Caspar
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Eric Mabius
as Gene
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Larry Miller
as Paul
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Lois Gerace
as Lois
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Alex Warren
as State Trooper
- John Vargas
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Walter C. Bassett
as Utility Cable
