The Minus Man (1999)

"I've never done anything violent to anyone," says the mild-mannered Vann Siegert, "Just the minimum that was necessary." Indeed, if you have to get knocked off by a serial killer, Vann (Owen Wilson) is definitely your man. Just a quick, sweet swig from a silver flask of poisoned amaretto and you're out, with a narcoleptic slump into eternal slumber. There's no taunting or torturing; he's friendly about the whole thing. You can see Vann almost--almost--wishing his victims wouldn't take that final sip. He doesn't hold any particular grudge against these people; rather, as he puts it, "I take the natural momentum of a person and draw it toward me." If someone looks like they're on a crash course--like the boozy, asthmatic heroin addict played convincingly by Sheryl Crow, her acting debut--he merely accelerates the process.

Wilson proves to be a mesmerizing if unlikely serial killer, his flat, Midwestern delivery ringing more sincere than sinister, more Charlie Brown than Charles Manson. His voiceovers purportedly allow us into the mind of a killer, but what we hear isn't all that different from what we see. Vann isn't faking the nice-guy veneer, he is a nice guy, with this one little quirk. Clearly, this is not your typical edge-of-your-seat thriller, but the slow, dreamy pace is nonetheless entrancing. There are moments of intense grace and humor here, too. Janeane Garofalo breaks away from the smart-aleck mold to portray a postal employee smitten with Vann, and Mercedes Ruehl takes a compelling turn as his troubled landlady. "I like the detail of a thing," Vann says. "Especially if it's got a purpose." While we may not know for certain whether this film has a purpose, the details dare you to stop watching, even for an instant. --Brangien Davis Amazon.com

An Epiphany.

Films about serial killers, in my humble opinion, have a tendency to be convoluted. They either use the gimmicks and glamor of Hollywood( Casting Selma Hayak as Martha Beck, the lovelorn nurse, hefty in girth, but not in morality)to seduce your sensibilities, or create an unpalatable monster( Laura Prepon as Karla Holmoka, a sadist with a beautiful face). Owen Wilson recreates the serial killer as a character. He placates you with a charming, articulate persona, then proceeds to blindside the viewer with acts of non-violent murder. He never attempts to justify his actions with rationality, or some purpose based complex. He is...as he says...empty. Its difficult for me to imagine a man like Owen Wilson as a serial killer. His face seems so open, and inviting, his kindness appears sincere and non-threatening. Perhaps this is the genius of the casting choice. He is the Elephant in the room, with his complete lack of emotional flux. For me, The Minus Man redefined the face of inhumanity, by showing us how the seemingly normal ones always fall through the cracks. Highly recommended. June 22, 2008

great unknown film

great film - creative and creepy. filmed in a warm, calming manner that offsets the twisted behavior of the lead character. well worth a view. February 17, 2008

Der Minus Mann from Germany

This is one of those movies that you think will really be good. The storyline has enough to make you suspend your disbelief.
Owen Wilson is so cool.
The soundtrack is amazing as well. October 9, 2007

I've never done anything violent to anybody. Just the minimum that was neccessary.

Some things can suprise you. Remember the bunny from MP's Holy Grail? Well, here's one for you--Owen Wilson playing a cold-blooded killer. Sound strange?
I'll admit, this seems like a hideously miscast role for him. But he nails it down pat.
The Minus Man is about a seemingly normal young man who is drifting from town to town. He is good looking, friendly, laid back. An everyday kind of guy. But that's the true horror behind it. One of his hobbies is killing people.
The reasons for this is left a question mark. That's what is the most frightening. He has no mental problems, no dark past, no chip on his shoulder. He could be anybody--you're best friend, neighbor, co-worker.
Ebert called this "a psychological thriller of uncomon power." I'd have to agree with him. August 2, 2007

A+++Suspense and Thriller

Suspenseful and sardonic to the end, without one boring minute, I consider this one of the best and most entertaining thriller stories depicted...it's one of my favorite movies. If one is looking for blood and gore and and lots of female nudity with their so-called horror, buy or rent The Mailman. The Minus Man concerns a psychopath and soon-to-be US postal worker who opens customer mail and "gently" but horrifically murders his victims with poison; he ingratiates himself into their lives with his winning smile, surface friendliness, and energetic speedy work in the post office mail room and later on the carrier route. Despite his past, one very contrived murder becomes a mystery: Did he or the husband do it? His potential victims generate empathy or sympathy with their emotional pain and vulnerability (so one cares about them) and one is on pins and needles wondering what will he or they do next and who will fall victim and who won't.
March 4, 2007

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