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Safe Men

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
Steve Zahn and Sam Rockwell in Safe Men (1998)
2 bad singers are mistaken for top safe-crackers at a bar. A gangster boss orders them to break into 3 safes or else..
Play trailer2:02
1 Video
26 Photos
Buddy ComedyComedyCrime

Two bad singers are mistaken for top safe-crackers at a bar; a gangster boss orders them to break into three safes or else.Two bad singers are mistaken for top safe-crackers at a bar; a gangster boss orders them to break into three safes or else.Two bad singers are mistaken for top safe-crackers at a bar; a gangster boss orders them to break into three safes or else.

  • Director
    • John Hamburg
  • Writer
    • John Hamburg
  • Stars
    • Sam Rockwell
    • Steve Zahn
    • Michael Lerner
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    3.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Hamburg
    • Writer
      • John Hamburg
    • Stars
      • Sam Rockwell
      • Steve Zahn
      • Michael Lerner
    • 57User reviews
    • 35Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

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    Trailer 2:02
    Trailer

    Photos26

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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Sam Rockwell
    Sam Rockwell
    • Sam
    Steve Zahn
    Steve Zahn
    • Eddie
    Michael Lerner
    Michael Lerner
    • Big Fat Bernie Gayle
    Paul Giamatti
    Paul Giamatti
    • Veal Chop
    Michael Schmidt
    • Bernie Jr.
    Christina Kirk
    Christina Kirk
    • Hannah
    Mark Ruffalo
    Mark Ruffalo
    • Frank
    Josh Pais
    Josh Pais
    • Mitchell
    Harvey Fierstein
    Harvey Fierstein
    • Leo
    Michael Showalter
    Michael Showalter
    • Larry
    John Hamburg
    John Hamburg
    • Philip
    Raymond Serra
    Raymond Serra
    • Barber
    Ray Iannicelli
    Ray Iannicelli
    • Swoop
    Ali Marsh
    Ali Marsh
    • Sherry
    Jacob Reynolds
    Jacob Reynolds
    • Ira
    Peter Dinklage
    Peter Dinklage
    • Leflore
    Mark Shanahan
    • Party Coordinator
    Emily Doubilet
    • 'Sweet' Denise Schneider
    • Director
      • John Hamburg
    • Writer
      • John Hamburg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews57

    5.83.7K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    7RobDiablo44

    Great Odd Humor

    Not your cookie cutter "Dumb" comedy. Just little oddities that make you say, "What the hell was that all about?" Sam Rockwell and Steven Zahn have great comedic timing as well as a flair for understated physical comedy. It just made me laugh. . but I must warn that I've recommended this film to some of my friends, and it just didn't respond to their comedic sensibilities. Also, if you've ever been to a barmitzvah, the scene in the movie is just barely parody. Hilarious!

    7 out of 10 "Sweet 'stache dude."
    7psychcowboy

    Quirky, unpredictable, and it works.

    This film reminds me a bit like Bad Santa.. no real plot, no attempt to do anything great, but the understatement and unpredictable flow of the movie just keeps your attention. Lots of little quirky and unconnected plot moments that make you chuckle. Put it this way, any director that puts the spaghetti in the tub kid from Gummo in a movie has got a sense of humor just slightly twisted enough to be worthy of note. The wide disparity of reviews, mostly either 2 or 10 doesn't surprise me. Some people will get it, some won't.
    8blanche-2

    very funny and no, I'm not Jewish

    Someone remarked here that "Safe Men" could only be enjoyed if you were Jewish -- I'm not, but I still enjoyed it.

    "Safe Men" is about two bad singers, Sam and Eddie (Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn) who are mistaken for two safecrackers (Mark Ruffalo and Josh Paris) and are forcibly recruited by mobster Big Fat Bernie Gayle (Michael Lerner) to rob three safes. And that's just the test.

    After being released by Gayle, the two men proceed to a gift shop where Sam smells candles and chooses items for a gift basket for Big Fat Bernie, figuring that then he won't make them rob any safes.

    Gayle is ably assisted by Veal Chop (Paul Giamatti), his loyal flunkie. One activity currently in the household is the preparation of Big Fat Bernie Gayle Jr.'s bar mitzvah.

    Harvey Fierstein plays Leo, a fence, whose daughter, Hannah (Christina Kirk), is the object of the affections of both Sam and one of the real safecrackers.

    The standout for me is Paul Giamatti, who is hilarious.

    There was a lot of laugh-out-loud humor in this. I admit that this writer, John Hamburg, has written some films I don't like with crude humor that is geared to the lowest common denominator. I prefer humor that comes out of ridiculous situations. This one fit the bill.
    10Tiger_Mark

    One of my all time favorite films!

    This is one fresh and innovative movie. Great performances by a very talented cast. The story deals with safe cracking, lounge singing and Jewish mobsters in Rhode Island. However, the real strengths of the film are the incredible performances and brilliant direction. There are no wasted scenes and the material is so fresh. Rockwell is brilliant as usual, but here he has lots of other great actors to work with. I was not aware that any critics were negative of this film, but if they were, it was due to their own ignorance. **** out of ****. You will enjoy this film, I guarantee it!
    luludavis

    Funny, Risky and Well-casted Film

    What's more funny than a couple of lounge singers, Jewish gangsters from

    Providence and unrequited love. The cast is amazing. Sam rockwell is a genius. Wheter he's in drama (Heist) or comedy(Welcome to Collinwood) he's seems to

    enjoy his work and when the actor is having fun the audience will follow suit. Mark Ruffalo, Steve Zahn(totally underrated), Paul Giamatti and the old

    schoolers, Michael Lerner and Harvey Fierstein make this one of the best cast films in recent memory. Christina Kirk is sexy and funny and tough. The guy who plays the MC at the Bar Mitzbah is awesome. I laughed my ass off from

    beginning to end.

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    Related interests

    Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
    Buddy Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director John Hamburg and actor Michael Showalter were college roommates.
    • Quotes

      Samuel: I have to wear a fake fuckin' ass over my ass!

    • Crazy credits
      After the end credits, there's a brief scene showing Big Fat Bernie Gayle and Leflore meeting in a men's restroom.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Peter Dinklage Performances (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Can You Get To That
      Written by George Clinton and Ernie Harris

      Performed by Funkadelic

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Safe Men?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 7, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kasa Hırsızları
    • Filming locations
      • Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Andell Entertainment
      • Blue Guitar Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $45,724
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $21,210
      • Aug 9, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $45,724
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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