Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1997: Dan Aykroyd in Grosse Pointe Blank

Dan Aykroyd did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Grocer in Grosse Pointe Blank.

 

Dan Aykroyd, despite being the first male SNL alumnus to get an acting Oscar nomination, isn't the first guy you think of when you think "great actor". He does though offer a distinct presence of his that is the Aykroyd presence that is a kind of earnestness of performance that can be quite enjoyable when properly used. Here though we really have genius level use by casting Aykroyd, not someone you would ever peg to play a psychopathic hitman, and you cast him as a psychopathic hitman. That is the choice here and it could not be a better choice. Aykroyd's performance in turn is fantastic by being so straight forward in playing in the Aykroyd style, that is not the natural fit for the cold blooded killer, and that's what makes him so funny here. There's really even just from the first scene where he mows down a groups of armed men, there's just something hilarious in Aykroyd engaging in gun play alone since it is so unexpected in such an enjoyable way. Of course a funny visual can be a lot but might not be enough if there wasn't a bit more to it than that. Thankfully there is as Aykroyd jumps right into playing this part for all its worth, and its worth is trying to add as much comedy as he can with the character of Grocer. 

 

Aykroyd is terrific in turn in playing up the role in his Aykroyd of playing it, particularly in his particularly Aykroydian way of delivering his kind of exposition and long speaking. Here we get that with his first conversation with Martin Blank (John Cusack), after stealing a few kills from him, and coming around to offer him the opportunity to become part of his hitman union. The key here is Aykroyd's speedy and really almost happy go lucky performance is quite hilarious by being so casual as he speaks about matter of life and death. His way of speaking every word as though he was merely just some kind of salesman is pretty wonderful. I love his chemistry, or lack thereof with Cusack as in their scenes together. In fact it is the way their delivery never exactly matches in rhythm that makes them strangely fascinating together. Both play it almost as though neither is really talking to each other, or at least neither is exactly listening to each other as both psychopaths go off on whatever concerns most in their particularly way of not exactly connecting with the world. Aykroyd though does mix it up here with the moments of a random more demonic stare or more intimating delivery. Showing that the hitman's more murderous intent is in there between the moments of just going off with his lines in that way that is distinct to Aykroyd. 

Aykroyd's Grocer then becomes the thorn in the side of Blank, going to track Blank down to his hometown, as he goes to reconnect at his high school reunion, kind of, taking in tow another hit-men a few federal agents to increase his odds. Aykroyd coming in a few hilarious bits here and there, again by being Aykroyd but with the best kind of demented qualities here. One of the best of these is when he meets Martin for a tense breakfast at a dinner as they both are carrying while still ordering. Aykroyd and Cusack orchestrating the insanity of the scene by keeping the same intense delivery even as they order their breakfast. Aykroyd also delivering his quite ridiculous phony noir dialogue with such proper ridiculousness as though he were in a ridiculous noir. What I think I enjoy most though is the petulance about Aykroyd's reaction such as his hang dog expression when Cusack still refuses to join him, and his scoffing way of expressing disbelief that Martin plans to retire before randomly blowing up in anger. This is a performance that is absolutely all over the place, but all over the place in a way that wholly works just for the insane nature of the character. A highlight of this certainly being this in the climax where Blank and Grocer face off. Where we get treated to a Looney Tunes style rendition from Aykroyd of "I'll be coming around the Mountain" with some altered lyrics, and of course the above picture moment that needs to be mentioned. The moment of Grocer and Blank teaming up, briefly, to dispatch the Federal agents, and the unadulterated glee upon Aykroyd's face as he shoots is a kind of perfection. This honestly as weird as the casting could seem on paper, seems ideal within the film, and Aykroyd successfully delivers on the comic implications of Dan Aykroyd playing a ruthless hitman, for all it's worth.