The Minus Man (1999)

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Just what I expected

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Very little went into the thought of this movie. The job he gets is more than far fetched. Just stroll in and get a job with the Postal Service and just read the book and you can deliver mail. I laughed at this whole premise. Please before you make a movie do some research. That Postmaster was laughable...I need to shrink routes for the holidays. And what was counting the flyers????? A complete unrealistic joke. research research research.... What serial killer is that sociable and amiable?? I have to admit I have never like Owen as an actor. Maybe it's his accent. Says he is from Texas but it sound like a valley boy. OMG!! I can't believe he is delivering mail in a LLV for curbside delivery and getting out of his vehicle with a mailbag to deliver. Who wrote this crap?? This movie gets a F for Failure to research.

Recently re-viewed this film again, and was struck by the direction, overall intriguing performances and suspense throughout.Owen Wilson gives a surprisingly real performance as complex and tortured character,Van, an aimless man with serious issues. As the story develops we see his splitting-off persona, and fictive characters (well-portrayed as police detectives,i.e.; His alter-egos).His pathology is never fully explained, even as he tries to psychoanalyze himself with voice over narrative.A brilliant film written by Hampton Fancher.First decent suspense film I have seen since Hitchcock.Highly recommended. 10/10.

Mild-mannered serial killer Owen Wilson (as Vann Siegert) drives his truck around, and kills an asthmatic junkie played by Sheryl Crow; then, he rents a small town room from Brian Cox and Mercedes Ruehl (as Doug and Jane Durwin). The couple seem to be getting over the possible loss of a daughter ("Karen"), and begin to treat Mr. Wilson as a member of their cold, distant family. He's a good fit. Mr. Cox offers fatherly help in getting Wilson a job at the post office; there, he meets Janeane Garofalo (as Ferrin). Ms. Garofalo is attracted to Wilson, but he appears disinterested. Hampton Fancher's "The Minus Man" is baffling. What's up with the imaginary room entrance, the borrowed truck, and the head bashing? What compels Wilson? Was it the spider that crawled in his ear? Are the detectives imaginary, or from the future? Like Vann says, "There's a mystery here that I could one day be tempted to explore, when I learn it better." The film is interesting and well-performed, but only minimally satisfying as a story. ****** The Minus Man (1999) Hampton Fancher ~ Owen Wilson, Janeane Garofalo, Brian Cox

I enjoyed this movie. One of the things I really liked was the "style" of the film. My wife came in mid-way through the movie. After watching a few scenes with Wilson and Garofalo she was shocked I had rented a romantic comedy for once. Surprise! It's really a movie about a serial killer. No really, I swear! I'm impressed a movie can cross genres that well. Great casting with Wilson's part. He is great at soliloquy. I know I've seen him do it before but I'm not sure where... maybe a Wes Anderson film. The plot was a little thin but really I don't think it was designed to do anything other than frame the main character's inner monologue. Isn't the movie really about the lines Wilson only says inside his head? At any rate decent plot; good actors (go Brian Cox!); excellent script; 8 out of 10.