Feeling Minnesota

Plot synopsis:
Freddie (Cameron Diaz) is a former stripper marrying Sam (Vincent D'Onofrio) to repay a debt owed to nightclub owner Red (Delroy Lindo). When Freddie meets Jjaks (Keanu Reeves), Sam's brother, they instantly fall in love. Jjaks and Freddie decide to run off together, eventually staying in a motel. After realizing that they don't have any money, Freddie and Jjaks decide to go back and steal some of Sam's money. Sam catches Jjaks in the act and they have a fight. After escaping, Jjaks returns to the motel, unaware that Sam has been following him. After Jjaks passes out due to the fight, Sam ends up shooting Freddie in the stomach in Jjak's car, and tries to frame the killing on Jjaks by returning Freddie's body to the motel room along with the murder weapon.
The next morning, Jjaks awakens having no memory of anything that happened after his fight with Sam. Seeing Freddie's body in the room along with the gun, he briefly thinks that maybe he killed Freddie. After being tipped off by Sam, the police arrive but Jjaks hastily avoids being caught. He drives Freddie's body to a remote area in the woods and proceeds to lay her to rest. All the while, Sam has been watching these events from afar, hoping to see his brother arrested.
Sam now calls a friend, Detective Ben Costikyan (Dan Aykroyd), who promptly arrests Jjaks. The three of them, along with Ben's partner Lloyd (David Alan Smith), drive to the area where supposedly Freddie's body is. However upon arrival Freddie is nowhere to be found. Angered at Sam for wasting his time, Costikyan, along with Lloyd, drive off, leaving the brothers by the side of the road.
Jjaks and Sam return home. They receive a phone call from the manager of the motel (Michael Rispoli), who, based on seeing Sam carrying Freddie's body INTO the motel room and Jjaks carrying the body OUT OF the motel room, wants $50,000 to keep quiet. Jjaks now realizes that Sam was setting him up. After another fight, they come up with a plan: Jjaks will go to the motel to talk to the manager while Sam will see Red, hoping for a loan.
At this point, Red has learned that Sam's been stealing money from him for the past year. Sam ends up shooting and killing Red after a brief skirmish and collects the $50,000 from a safe. Jjaks meets with the motel manager but sees Freddie's necklace on the floor of the manager's apartment. Confused and angry, Jjaks throws the manager outside and threatens to kill him. Suddenly out of nowhere, an alive Freddie walks towards them, calling out Jjaks' name. She shows Jjaks her bullet wound and tell him that Sam's a bad shot. Also, someone picked her up from the side of the road where he'd left her body.
The next morning Sam calls Jjaks and tells him he got the money. However, after seeing Freddie alive from a nearby diner, he confronts Jjaks and Freddie in the manager's apartment. Sam ends up getting shot when Jjaks and Freddie try to defend themselves. Costikyan enters the hotel room and suffocates Sam by holding his hand against his mouth. It turns out that Freddie had called Costikyan after being rescued and used him to help her get the $50,000. A betrayed and wounded Jjaks is left helpless.
Some time later, Costikyan is arrested in his underwear inside a hotel. Freddie had tipped off the cops and left with the money. Jjaks and Freddie have since had a falling out, however Jjaks remembers Freddie's dream: that she wants to live in Las Vegas and be a dancer. He hitchhikes there and she says, with a smile: "what took you f***ing so long?" They embrace each other.

Tags: comedy

Review:
Most films starring Keanu Reeves or Cameron Diaz are a safe bet for a big Hollywood blockbuster.
Watching this movie on running trait in all the characters stood out, their quirkiness.
I watched this with a couple of friends, they too liked it, but we each noticed and laughed at different things.I also loved the constant twists and turns and changes to the dynamic of the story.
Oddly despite all of these twists and turns I never got lost but was glued to my screen figuring out who's with who and who's looking out for who.The fights between the two brothers, Sam (Vince D'Onofrio) and Jjax(Keanu Reeves) are some of the funniest things i have ever seen on screen.
Reeves put in a good performance as a bumbling crook and D'Onofrio carries himself well as his childish brother.
This is a piece that almost everyone can identify themselves with,in one way or another.Everyone that has been hurt early on in his life,someway.And not given a chance to hit a better road.Keanu portrays a lost young man who has been mistreated in his childhood mostly by his brother,but also by his mother who decided to get rid of him while he was still a kid.Cameron Diaz is a tough girl with no future who gets caught up in trouble which ends up having to marry Keanu's brother,played excellently by Vince D'Onofrio.Whole establishment of the town is rotten.Specially the police officer played by Dan Aykroyd and a stripjoint shark played by Delroy Lindo.Keanu meets Cameron on his brother's wedding and love blossoms.Watching this movie is quite enjoyable and i easily fall for these stories,of paradise lost and love happening on the worst place possible.I dont know why,but i kind of felt like it was me on the screen,or a part of me playing the part of Jjaks.Iam sure many more felt the same.Whats so great with this film is that it makes us feel so many different emotions at the same time,and the moods change incredibly fast.First,everything is dark and then hope starts to come and we feel like Jjaks and Freddie might make it,before our hopes come crashing down again and in the end come true.Its the main accomplishment of this film.Creating so many intense and dramatic situations.Contrasts are strong here.This is one of Reeves' best roles in my opinion.Same goes for Cameron and D'Onofrio.Dont believe the poor reviews of this film.Watch it..
You get the idea the real "bad guy" in the film is the neglectful, dope-smoking mother who allows the older brother to brutalize and bully the younger.
I missed this one when it came out and rented the video because I found the name, Feeling Minnesota, remindful of the Coen Brother's Raising Arizona.
Black comedy it is, I never thought I would enjoy that genre but apparently I do.Its an entertaining movie, I highly suggest it for anyone that enjoys a twisty plot....Wils.
Feeling Minnesota is not really a road movie, but that's still the best categorization I can generate.
Unfortunately the staff of Feeling Minnesota fails utterly in producing this excitement.The initializing presentation of the characters is unsatisfying and confusing; I can, for example, not figure out whether Jjaks (Keanu Reeves) did grow up in the house of his mother and brother or not.
They appear irrational, and no real explanation is given to why they do so.The bottom line is that I leave the movie without any feelings for the characters, except dullness and perhaps a tiny kick of attraction for the cute Cameron Diaz..
It reminded me of the movie "Fargo."  There were enough twists and turns mixed in with the goofball depiction of the characters to keep me interested.
As usual, Keanu Reeves does a great job with his character from beginning to end in a spontaneous fashion as the situation is very fluid..
Feeling Minnesota, directed by Steven Baigelmann, and starring Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz and Vincent D'Onofrio: The strained relationship between two brothers, Sam (D'Onofrio) and Jjaks (Reeves), is pushed to breaking point when Jjaks arrives at Sam's wedding and makes off with the bride, Freddie (Diaz), a former stripper, marrying Sam to repay a gambling debt owed to night-club owner Red (Lindo).
Putting Keanu and Diaz in the same movie should at least provide some eye candy, but Baigelman even cops out on that score, grudging his actors up with little positive effect.
the main reason i had the impetus to write about this film was that it was likely the only (or one of the only) keanu reeves films in which he actually performs well and gives an engaging and three dimensional character with EMOTIONS ...
During a lifetime of seeing and enjoying thousands of films, Feeling Minnesota is absolutely the worst (**major film with A-list stars) that I have ever seen.
Steven Baigelman wrote and directed this uncertain comedy-drama concerning estranged brothers (Keanu Reeves and Vincent D'Onofrio) battling over embezzled cash as well as the affections of a pretty blonde (Cameron Diaz).
The gritty ambiance inherent in Walt Lloyd's incredibly vivid cinematography is the most memorable aspect of the picture; capturing a blue-collar realism with such clarity, however, tends to emphasize the unreality of these dunderhead characters, and the movie's look and its story fail to cohere.
I felt like watching the trailer for a new release.The acting was good, especially the lead characters: Cameron Diaz and Keanu Reeves.
I also liked the location where most of the film was shot: St-Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota.In all, not a great movie but still enjoyable to watch.Out of 100, I gave it 74.
done poorly.There is no real mystery to the plot.Diaz's performance is totally uninspired.The quirky characters don't really work.There are a lot of "duh" moments.I love black comedy, but this film isn't funny.In my view, it wasn't worth the electricity.There are many films in this genre which are much more entertaining.I hope you find this review helpful..
You know, the Hollywood movie that tries to be an Independent film in the way that it tries to be like real life, but it ends in a way that is so obviously Hollywood?
I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes to mix things up a bit, or is just tired of the same old movie plots - and especially anyone who would love to see Keanu and Cameron together!
the movie is a surprising acting performance from Keanu and Cameron, refreshing to see Keanu play something else besides some moron-like action figure.
The actors are the integral component in this movie; each and every one of them is so totally believable that I am still disgusted when I think of the film.
If you like Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Dan Ackroyd and Vincent D'onofrio.
What are big leaguers like Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz and Dan Aykroyd wasting their time being in such rubbish?.
Petty criminal Reeves turns up to his brothers (Vincent D'Onofrio) wedding and ends up leaving with the bride.
Reeves is wooden in the lead and casting Dan Aykroyd as a cop is so dreadful it has to be seen to be believed!.
With the possible exception of the minister who performs the wedding, every character in "Feeling Minnesota" is seriously flawed and not quite able to have a normal take on life.
Keaunu Reeves, Vincent D'Onofrio, Dan Ackroyd, Cameron Diaz, Delroy Lindo, and even Tuesday Weld as the mother who dies during the wedding reception all play their roles to the hilt to create this hodge-hodge of ultimately quirky characters.
How fitting that the plot was equally lame, lacking any intelligence whatsoever.I can't believe that Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz would even consent to participating in such stupidity.
The tension between the brothers is nothing more than rough housing and the film's tone changes so much it is dizzying.This mess is a movie that does not entertain or even pass as anything but an unrelenting bore.
The performances are good for the most part, but it is really difficult to like a movie when every single character in it is so damned unlikable.
I watched it once, and then rented it again to watch it again (perhaps thinking it would grow on me the second time) but I turned it off round about the "motel blow job" scene when I really got very bored with the whole thing.
(and is it just me or does Keanu Reeves wear that same damn suede jacket in EVERY movie he is in?
Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz, who I usually like, are bad in this film and have zero chemistry.
The story isn't bad, but the film is so poorly acted and directed that it's hard to like and tough to sit through (I couldn't stay up through most of it).
There's not a whole lot to say about this silly, violent flick, so I won't.However, it is worth pointing out a few things:#1) This was one of Keanu Reeves' worst films.
She's cute and grungy, but won't show her energy until "My Best Friend's Wedding".#3) Tuesday Weld, an actress that I haven't really seen a whole lot in films appears as Keanu Reeves' mother.
It was the first time i saw Keanu Reeves, and i fell in love instantly.
My mom freaked when she found out I watched that kind of movie, saying I was like 9, and she didn't know that I knew what sex was.
Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Vincent D'Onofrio and even Dan Aykroyd as the annoying cop are all seriously flawed and unlikable.What a disappointment..
Now very much like 'The Lake House,' this film has Keanu Reeves, and he's acting in the film.
Bottom line, this is a very funny, silly, slapstick, goofy film - but very adult, with twists and turns as the largely amoral characters grapple and use each other to get what they want.
None of the characters are particularly likable, Jjaks (Reeves) seems the most put upon but he's in and out of prison and Freddie (Diaz) is a good time girl who messed with the wrong people and is just doing what she has to do to get by.
It's also a sort of romantic love story although despite Reeves acting superbly and being rather cute, the chemistry between him and Diaz is lacking something.
Diaz, I don't feel is acting her best and often is a somewhat monotone, as if reading lines, but they are enjoyable to watch and whilst I think she's the weakest performance she has the most difficult and emotionally exposing role and in that case I think she does well.
Reeves is animated and light - like Diaz, I think he suits comedy and there are plenty of funny scenes (albeit black comedy as often as not) to enjoy.
Diaz is both charming and annoying - her character is understandable and relatable (possibly due to her performance making it so) but also largely without scruples and single mindedness: her dream of working in Vegas - and I like that whilst it ends satisfactorily, it's not particularly Hollywood in it's ending and it's predictable but pleasantly so.
Keanu Reeves and Vince D'Onofrio play two feuding brothers who want the same women.
The women, played very sexily by Cameron Diaz, likes Reeves but is married to D'Onofrio and has eyes on his money.Some people get murdered but the show is really more of a comedy.
The three leads do a great job as do the supporting actors like Dan Aykroyd and the always watchable Delroy Lindo.
They then proceed to get the hell out of no-wheres-ville, which strings a interesting and chaotic chain of events together.There's some neat twists, a few edge-of-your-seat moments, nice story, good and funny (in a black comedy style) script, but what impressed me the most was that, this has to be Keanu Reeve's only convincing role in his lucky-as-hell career.The whole cast performed way beyond my expectations, maybe this is the result of such a low budget and thus, without special effects and fancy dress, the likes of Cameron Diaz, Vincent D'Onofrio, Tuesday Weld, Dan Aykroyd and Delroy Lindo are truly forced to 'act'!
It hasn't even been two years since I first saw this film, and yet, I can barely remember a thing about this movie.
After watching this film, you will come to the unshakeable conclusion that Minnesota feels like a giant mosquito bite..
It is badly done with poor dialogues, Reeves played as bad as ever and Cameron Diaz competed with him.
And after I watched, it still seemed 'ok.'Feeling Minnesota is about a former stripper, Freddy (Diaz) who owes a debt to a nightclub owner (Lindo).
Great chemistry between the actors, cinematography (it's always cloudy and gives it a nice depressing feel to the movie) and a decent ending add up to make this an enjoyable viewing experience.P.S. I loved the opening credits.
See it because of Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz..
And if it didn't have Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz, I wouldn't have watched the whole thing.Reeves plays Jjaks, a man who lives his life on the road, because his mother threw him out when he was only 8.
They run off together and things turn into a disaster.If you enjoy movies with 2 men fighting over the same woman, then I would recommend Feeling Minnesota to you..
This is a great little dark/Comedy/Romance film, that's quite entertaining and funny, with a good story and excellent performances!.
This is a great little dark/Comedy/Romance film, that's quite entertaining and funny, with a good story and excellent performances!.
All the characters are great, and it has some very good dramatic moments as well ( a lot of them actually), plus Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz are simply amazing in this!.
OK yes the finale was a bit predictable, however that didn't ruin it for me at all, and I thought Reeves and Diaz had excellent chemistry together, plus it has a few very good plot twists as well, even if I did see one of them coming and that was the big one!.
It's pretty well made and written, and I thought Vincent D'Onofrio was brilliant in his role, as the brother of Jjaks, plus I really liked the ending as well.
This is a great little dark/Comedy romance film, that's quite entertaining and funny, with a good story and excellent performances, I highly recommend this one!.
Keanu Reeves is amazing as always and is amazing here, he is extremely likable, had excellent chemistry with Diaz, had some powerful scenes with D'Onofrio, had plenty of charisma as always, and I consider this to be one of his best performances!
Cameron Diaz is incredibly gorgeous and is amazing here, she is very likable, had an unpredictable character, was vulnerable, had excellent chemistry with Reeves, and I felt sorry for her in a lot of scenes(Diaz Rules!!!!!!!).
Vincent D'Onofrio is brilliant here as the brother of Reeves, he really was a sorry excuse for a human being, but he played it so brilliantly that I couldn't help but like him, he is one of the main reasons I enjoyed this film so much.
Feeling Minnesota is an entertaining movie, and though it may require some rewatching to be sure, it's probably now one of my favorites.
From the beginning it reminded me quite a bit of a certain Coen brothers film with a similar title, only it is much more violent and a little darker.For those of you who haven't seen it, and to sum it up without spoilers, it's basically a movie about two brothers- Keanu Reeves, the petty crook who has a habit of holding up convenience stores (again, remind you of anything?), and D'Onofrio, his jerky brother.
There are a bunch of scenes where he and Reeves are stumbling around or beating each other up and the nearly slapstick physical comedy was great.D'Onofrio and Aykroyd especially are great as the whiny, violent brother with a bizarre taste in clothes and the crooked cop with the hots for Diaz.
Reeves wasn't the best choice, though he's passable (especially in scenes involving sibling rivalry), but the rest of the cast wasn't exactly delightful.The sex scenes between Reeves and Diaz (again, not exactly my two favorite performers) were pretty awful, there were parts of the ending that I didn't like, and I wish the film had omitted some of the more annoying romantic elements in general, but I really enjoyed it overall.It's certainly something I'd recommend, though it's a little odd and very dark (pretty much all of the characters are simultaneously likable and disgusting), so it may not be for everyone.
Cameron Diaz, Keanu Reeves, and Dan Akroyed.
Instead, it just kept getting worse and worse.When I see a movie that is as bad as this one I always try to find at least one good thing to say about it.
Well, here's an example: Towards the end Dan Akroyd smothers and kills Vincent D'Onofrio while Reeves and Diaz watch!
Feeling Minnesota (1996): Dir: Steve Baigelman / Cast: Keanu Reeves, Vincent D'Onofrio, Cameron Diaz, Delroy Lindo, Dan Aykroyd: Bizarre and twisted tale about places that hail dreaded memories and pain.
Keanu Reeves and Vincent D'Onofrio play two feuding brothers.
Cameron Diaz is sold as a wedding gift to D'Onofrio by his boss, played by Delroy Lindo, as punishment.
Watching this movie was like watching "Dumb & Dumber" except the characters aren't as dumb nor as funny.
But the humor isn't all that well grafted and is nowhere near as good as the Coen brothers films.
Keanu Reeves who plays the slight good brother between the two brothers is right for this role and although his acting needed some work.
Very poor film dealing with quite a dysfunctional family to put it mildly.This must have been one of Cameron Diaz's first films and she set the standard for her career: A real cute young lady with absolutely no acting talent whatsoever.In this sub-standard film, two brothers vie for attention and one, Vincent D'Onofrio actually marries her.