Madison Avenue executive Graham Marshall has paid his dues. A talented and devoted worker, he has suffered through mounting bills and a nagging wife with one thing to look forward to: a well-deserved promotion. But when the promotion is given to a loud-mouthed yuppie associate, Graham unleashes his rage on an overly aggressive panhandler, who he accidently kills by pushing him into the path of an oncoming subway train. He re-thinks his problems with an entirely new solution. First, he arranges an "accident" for his annoying wife. Then he creates another "mishap" for his boss. It seems like the world is once more Graham's oyster…but a missing cigarette lighter and a prying police detective may change all that.
Michael Caine
Graham Marshall
Elizabeth McGovern
Stella Anderson
Peter Riegert
Robert Benham
Swoosie Kurtz
Leslie Marshall
Will Patton
Lt. Laker
Jenny Wright
Melanie O'Conner
John McMartin
George Brewster
Barbara Baxley
Lillian
Haviland Morris
Tara Liston
Philip Moon
Henry Park
Kent Broadhurst
Executive #1
Zach Grenier
Executive #2
David Schramm
Executive #3
Sam Schacht
David Jones
Christopher Durang
Convention Speaker
Mia Dillon
Graham's Secretary
Alice Haining
Benham's Secretary
Patience Moore
Wanda Maas
Darrell Wilks
Joe
Scotty Bloch
Secretary #1
Kim Staunton
Secretary #2
Alicia Hoge
Secretary #3
Mike Cicchetti
Beggar #1
Rick Petrucelli
Beggar #2
Victor Truro
Bum
Rik Colitti
Bum #2
Mike Starr
Bum #3
Miguel Pérez
Transit Cop
John Finn
Motorman
Tyrone Jackson
Messenger
Marie Sylvia
Waitress
Samuel L. Jackson
Ulysses
Jonathan Freeman
Decorator in Bob's Office
Elizabeth Moran
Partygoer
Joe Zaloom
Hot Dog Vendor
Socorro Santiago
Rental Car Attendant / Additional Dialogue
Welker White
Kennel Driver
Frank Ferrara
Off Duty Cab Driver
Sheila Stainback
News Anchor Woman
Jim Dratfield
Additional Dialogue
Fred Ephraim
Additional Dialogue
Garry Goodrow
Additional Dialogue
David H. Kramer
Additional Dialogue
Angela Pietropinto
Additional Dialogue
Craig Sechler
Additional Dialogue
Louise Williams
Additional Dialogue
Director
Jan Egleson
Novel
Simon Brett
Screenplay
Andrew Klavan
November 15, 2014
9
Graham has had enough of getting the shaft…
A Shock to the System is directed by Jan Egleson and adapted to screenplay by Andrew Klavan from the novel written by Simon Brett. It stars Michael Caine, Elizabeth McGovern, Peter Riegert, Will Patton and Swoosie Kurtz. Music is by Gary Chang and cinematography by Paul Goldsmith.
Graham Marshall (Caine) is once again overlooked for promotion and once again his harpy wife (Kurtz) belittles him.Then a heated exchange at the train station results in the accidental death of a beggar, and he gets away with it, something which gives Graham some devilish thoughts, one of Satan's light bulbs ignited above his head.
By his own admission Michael Caine has readily done films just to pay the bills or build a new house. His success ratio as per great films and performances to bad films and tired performances probably stacks up as 1 in 10, consider this, in this same year he made Bullseye! What we do know though, is that when he gets it right he knocks it out the park and thus makes all his bad films easy to forgive.
A Shock to the System is an under valued film on his CV, a brilliantly constructed black comedy that finds Caine effortlessly shifting through the emotional gears. From beat down Milquetoast to ruthless killer with a glint in his eye, Caine plays it to perfection. There's stabs of humour along the way, Caine a natural at this of course, and he even gets a young love interest in the form of the unbelievably cute Lizzie McGovern. Interesting to note that Graham's sex life improves greatly once the killing begins!
Driven by an antagonist who toys with the audiences sympathies and moral repulsions, this is a film that's deserving of greater exposure and is ripe for re-evaluation. Great film, great Caine. 9/10
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00