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| name = Middle Men | name = Middle Men
| image = Middle men poster.jpg | image = Middle men poster.jpg
| border = no
| caption = Theatrical poster | caption = Theatrical poster
| director = ] | director = ]
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| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = Malcolm Campbell | editing = Malcolm Campbell
| studio = Oxymoron Entertainment & Paramount Pictures | studio = Oxymoron Entertainment<br>Mallick Media<br>Blue Star Entertainment
| distributor = ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Paramount-Picks-Up-Luke-Wilson-Indie-Middle-Men-17152.html|title=Paramount Picks Up Luke Wilson Indie Middle Men|last=Rich|first=Katey|date=2010-02-19|work=Cinema Blend|accessdate=19 November 2010}}</ref> | distributor = ] (through ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Paramount-Picks-Up-Luke-Wilson-Indie-Middle-Men-17152.html|title=Paramount Picks Up Luke Wilson Indie Middle Men|last=Rich|first=Katey|date=2010-02-19|work=Cinema Blend|access-date=19 November 2010}}</ref>)
| released = {{Film date|2009|05|17|]|2010|08|06|United States}} | released = {{Film date|2009|05|17|]|2010|08|06|United States}}
| runtime = 105 minutes | runtime = 105 minutes
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| language = English | language = English
| budget = $20 million<ref name="mojo" /> | budget = $20 million<ref name="mojo" />
| gross = $754,301<ref name="mojo" /><ref name="the-numbers">{{cite web | title = Middle Men - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information | publisher = The Numbers | url = https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/MIDMN.php | accessdate = 2010-09-16}}</ref> | gross = $754,301<ref name="mojo" /><ref name="the-numbers">{{cite web | title = Middle Men - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information | publisher = The Numbers | url = https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2010/MIDMN.php | access-date = 2010-09-16}}</ref>
}} }}
⚫ '''''Middle Men''''' is a 2009 American ] directed by ] and written by Gallo and Andy Weiss. It stars ], ], ] and ].<ref name="men">{{cite news |url= https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992442.html |author=Dave McNary|title=Wilson, Ribisi to star in 'Middle Men' |work=] |date=September 18, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref> The movie is based on the experiences of Christopher Mallick, who was previously associated with the internet billing company Epoch and was the founder of ePassporte. Christopher Mallick has been accused of stealing millions of dollars from his customers at ePassporte to fund the creation of the film.<ref name="Details">{{cite news |url= https://thefeature.net/post/3566789180/inside-hollywoods-greatest-vanity-project |author=Sanjiv Bhattacharya|title=Inside Hollywoods Greatest Vanity Project |work=] |date= 2011-03-01 |access-date= 2011-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/After-Porn-Ends-Gets-Life-After-Porn-on-iTunes-477284.html |title=AVN - 'After Porn Ends' Gets Life After Porn on iTunes |publisher=Business.avn.com |date=2012-05-30 |access-date=2012-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/09/following-the-money-epassporte-edition/ |title=Following the Money, ePassporte Edition — Krebs on Security |publisher=krebsonsecurity.com |date=2010-09-15 |access-date=2013-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/ePassporte-CEO-Issues-Statement-to-Calm-the-Masses-411613.html |title=AVN - ePassporte CEO Issues Statement to Calm the Masses |publisher=Business.avn.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018202004/http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/ePassporte-CEO-Issues-Statement-to-Calm-the-Masses-411613.html |access-date=2013-01-12|archive-date=2014-10-18 }}</ref>

⚫ '''''Middle Men''''' is a 2009 American ] directed by ] and written by Gallo and Andy Weiss. It stars ], ], ] and ].<ref name="men">{{cite news |url= https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117992442.html |author=Dave McNary|title=Wilson, Ribisi to star in 'Middle Men' |work=] |date=September 18, 2008 |accessdate=April 1, 2009}}</ref> The movie is based on the experiences of Christopher Mallick, who was previously associated with the Internet billing companies Paycom and ePassporte. Christopher Mallick has been accused of stealing millions of dollars from his customers at ePassporte to fund the creation of the film.<ref name="Details">{{cite news |url= http://www.details.com/culture-trends/critical-eye/201103/chris-mallick-middle-men |author=Sanjiv Bhattacharya|title=Inside Hollywoods Greatest Vanity Project |work=] |date= 2011-03-01 |accessdate= 2011-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/After-Porn-Ends-Gets-Life-After-Porn-on-iTunes-477284.html |title=AVN - 'After Porn Ends' Gets Life After Porn on iTunes |publisher=Business.avn.com |date=2012-05-30 |accessdate=2012-12-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://krebsonsecurity.com/2010/09/following-the-money-epassporte-edition/ |title=Following the Money, ePassporte Edition — Krebs on Security |publisher=krebsonsecurity.com |date=2010-09-15 |accessdate=2013-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.avn.com/articles/technology/ePassporte-CEO-Issues-Statement-to-Calm-the-Masses-411613.html |title=AVN - ePassporte CEO Issues Statement to Calm the Masses |publisher=Business.avn.com |date= |accessdate=2013-01-12}}</ref>


==Plot== ==Plot==
⚫ In 2004 ], Jack Harris leaves home with several million dollars in a duffel bag, to pay Russian mobsters. Harris is worried about the safety of his wife Diana and their children.
{{Long plot|date=September 2019}}
⚫ In 2004 ], Jack Harris drives with several million dollars in a duffel bag to deliver to Russian mobsters, worried about the safety of his wife Diana and their children.


In 1997 ], Jack has a reputation for solving problems, and helps a sick friend co-managing a newly set up nightclub. Wayne Beering and Buck Dolby are best friends, renting a small dingy flat together, though often hot-headedly at each other's throats. The slacker drug-addicted friends are discussing pornography one evening and Wayne asks why it is still not possible to buy porn on the Internet instead of relying on adult DVDs that have already been watched multiple times. As they discuss the logistics of such a possibility, suddenly a bright idea light-bulb switches on in Buck's head. As a former ] scientist, Buck takes a mere 15 minutes to create a program to allow online credit card transactions to charge people for looking at porn on their website. To their utter surprise (even at a cheeky $9.99 a pop) they quickly earn thousands of dollars in a matter of just days. In no time at all they're inundated with clients rolling in at all hours. Needing more porn material to satisfy the demand, they approach Nikita Sokoloff, a rather crazed Russian mob boss who owns a local ]; who agrees to 25% of their business in return for letting them photograph and film his strippers in action. Flashback to 1997 in ], where Jack helps a sick friend managing a nightclub. Nearby, Wayne Beering and Buck Dolby are best friends renting together. The drug-addicted friends are watching porn movie reels when Wayne asks why there is no porn on the internet. Buck, a former ] scientist, takes 15 minutes to create a program to allow online credit card transactions to charge people for looking at dirty pictures on their website. They quickly earn thousands of dollars. Needing more porn content they approach Nikita Sokoloff, a Russian mob boss who owns a local ]; Sokoloff agrees to 25% of their business in return for letting them photograph and film his strippers.


Buck and Wayne's website is successful and they celebrate their newfound riches by partying in ] whilst neglecting to make the promised payments to Sokoloff. Jack has made the L.A. nightclub a success and attracts the attention of Jerry Haggerty, a crooked lawyer hired by Wayne and Buck to sort out their problem with Sokoloff, who's aggressively on their backs after his cut. Jack meets the two friends and soon becomes a partner in the business; but, not wanting to be a pornographer, Jack recommends they rather become more like 'middle men' and instead take a cut of the credit card money transfers, which would allow them even larger profits. Jack pays off Haggerty $200,000, knowing Haggerty is under federal indictment and therefore a threat to the business. Within a month Buck and Wayne's website is hugely successful. They party in ] while neglecting payments to Sokoloff. Jack has made the LA nightclub a success and attracts the attention of Jerry Haggerty, a crooked lawyer hired by Wayne and Buck to sort out their problem with Sokoloff. Jack meets the friends and becomes a partner in the business, paying Haggerty $200,000 to get out, knowing Haggerty is under federal indictment and thus a threat to the business.


Sokoloff's mobster nephew comes to collect his $400,000 profit, but when he threatens to hurt/kill Jack's family/son, one of Jack's body guards punches his head so hard that he starts bleeding from one ear, acting oddly, and soon falls over stone dead. A now panicked Jack and his partners dump the body in the ocean and fabricate a story that Sokoloff's nephew pilfered the money and ran. Sokoloff is highly skeptical, but agrees to let it pass in return for a further increase to 50% of the partnership. Sokoloff's nephew comes to collect his $400,000 profit, but when he threatens to kill Jack's family, one of Jack's body guards punches him so hard that he falls dead. Jack and his partners dump the body in the ocean and fabricate a story that Sokoloff's nephew took the money and ran. Sokoloff is skeptical, but agrees to let it pass in return for an increase to 50% of the partnership.


Jack expands the business by focusing on the online credit card billing services, soon needing their very own building to house it all. They create a billing company called "24/7 billing.com", becoming the titular "Middle Men" for other Internet-based porn providers. The billing business is making hundreds of millions of dollars within a year, so much so that they struggle to keep track of all the cash. Jack becomes addicted to the money, sex and power of his new lifestyle and consequently spends little time with his Houston family. As hard as he tries, soon temptation overcomes his resolve and he starts a relationship with an irresistible young entrepreneur porn star, Audrey Dawns. Jack expands the business by dropping their porn site and focusing on the online credit card billing services. They create a billing company called "24/7 billing.com", becoming the titular Middle Men for other internet-based porn providers. The billing business is making hundreds of millions of dollars within a year. Jack becomes addicted to the money, sex and power of his new L.A. lifestyle, spends little time with his Houston family and starts a relationship with porn star Audrey Dawns.


Haggerty, bitter that Jack cut him out of what has become a multi-million-dollar partnership, schemes to bleed them of more cash or take over the company. He manipulates the foolish Wayne and Buck to work with Denny Z, providing billing services for Denny's dodgy websites which include underage/]. Haggerty, bitter that Jack cut him out of a multimillion dollar partnership, schemes to take over the company. He easily manipulates the foolish Wayne and Buck to work with Denny Z, providing billing services for Denny's numerous ] websites.


Audrey's live stream porn site hooks the attention of a particular young terrorist who's soon obsessed. In no time many of his terror-cell mates have been linked over to Audrey's charms. The site becomes watched by an international web of masturbating terrorists, which the US government uses to accurately track, then arrest or kill said terrorists. The FBI asks for Jack and Audrey's help to expand their terrorist hunt, but a paranoid Wayne and Buck fear that Jack is meeting with the FBI to betray/turn them in for the murder of Sokoloff's nephew and/or the alleged underage porn. In a panic, the two confide in Haggerty, also ultimately disclosing about killing Sokoloff's nephew, which Haggerty uses to incite Sokoloff to make a vengeful move on Jack (& their golden egg laying 'goose'). Audrey's live stream porn site is watched by an international web of terrorists, which the US Government uses to track and arrest or kill the terrorists. The FBI asks for Jack and Audrey's help to expand their terrorist hunt, but Wayne and Buck fear that Jack is meeting with the FBI to turn them in for the murder of Sokoloff's nephew and the child porn. The two confide in Haggerty about killing Sokoloff's nephew, which Haggerty uses to incite Sokoloff to make a move on Jack.


⚫ Jack's life is further complicated when Sokoloff's men kidnap his maid's son, who they believe is Jack's son. Jack gathers up several million dollars and goes to meet Sokoloff, as seen at the start of the film.
When Jack finds out that his partners are helping facilitate Denny Z's child porn, he confronts Denny Z at a house party. When he retaliates, Jack disarms then shoots Denny in the foot with the guy's own gun. On his way back out, Jack happens upon and sees Audrey having sex with two men/clients of hers at the party, and realizes how much he misses his own family. This leads him to later break up with Audrey, going back on a promise he made her previously.


Jack is told that the boy will be released if he signs a contract giving his partnership share to Wayne, Buck, Sokoloff, and Haggerty. Jack signs the agreement but backdates it to before Denny Z's child porn business was added. Sokoloff shoots Haggerty dead but lets Jack go as thanks for all the money he has made him.
⚫ An FBI agent, appreciative of the critical help Jack has given the government, warns him that 24/7billing.com is about to be indicted for supporting child porn. Jack's life is further complicated when Sokoloff's men mistakenly kidnap his maid's son, who they erroneously believe is Jack's son. Nevertheless, Jack gathers up several million dollars and goes to meet Sokoloff to attempt save the kid, as seen at the start of the film.


Jack's FBI friend charges Sokoloff, Wayne and Buck with providing billing services for child porn. They turn states evidence against Denny Z for a reduced sentence. Sokoloff flees the country and is alleged to be in Moscow. Jack and the maid's son return home, where Diane welcomes Jack back into their family.
Jack is told that the boy will be released only if he signs a contract giving his partnership share to Wayne, Buck, Sokoloff, and Haggerty (Buck & Wayne stand by sheepishly, though have little say in the matter). Jack signs the agreement, realising this is just the lucky break he needed to exit the situation, so asks to backdate the contract six months, claiming he wants to avoid all the unnecessary taxes. Just as Haggerty is boasting his triumph over Jack, Sokoloff surprises him with a bullet in his back, deeming him too untrustworthy for partnership. He lets Jack go however, in recognition of all the money he has made him; "Sometimes business is more important than family", he smirks.

Jack and the maid's son return home safe and sound. Jack's FBI contact charges Wayne and Buck with providing billing services for child porn. Jack avoids being charged due to having sold the company before the crimes were committed. Whereas Sokoloff flees the country, dodging off back to mother Russia to luxuriate in all his ill-gotten gains. Diane reluctantly, yet clearly pleased with the outcome, welcomes Jack back to the family home and marriage. ... (A pre-title postscript denotes that they in fact remain happily married to this very day, in real life, even adding a further 2 kids to the mix. ... And noting that Buck & Wayne endured a mere 18-month stint out of a possible 5-year sentence, before being paroled. ... Now free to enjoy their many crazy millions!)


==Cast== ==Cast==
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* ] as Audrey Dawns * ] as Audrey Dawns
* ] as Nikita Sokoloff * ] as Nikita Sokoloff
* ] as Cynthia
* ] as James * ] as James
* ] as District Attorney Frank Griffin * ] as District Attorney Frank Griffin
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''Middle Men'' was released on August 6, 2010. ''Middle Men'' was released on August 6, 2010.


The first official theatrical trailer for the film was released on June 16, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thefilmstage.com/2010/06/16/george-gallos-middle-men-trailer-chronicles-the-birth-of-internet-porn/ |title=Middle Men Full Trailer |publisher=The Film Stage |accessdate=June 16, 2010 |date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617191308/http://thefilmstage.com/2010/06/16/george-gallos-middle-men-trailer-chronicles-the-birth-of-internet-porn/ |archivedate=June 17, 2010 }}</ref> The first official theatrical trailer for the film was released on June 16, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thefilmstage.com/2010/06/16/george-gallos-middle-men-trailer-chronicles-the-birth-of-internet-porn/ |title=Middle Men Full Trailer |publisher=The Film Stage |access-date=June 16, 2010 |date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617191308/http://thefilmstage.com/2010/06/16/george-gallos-middle-men-trailer-chronicles-the-birth-of-internet-porn/ |archive-date=June 17, 2010 }}</ref>


A red band trailer was released on July 10, 2010. A red band trailer was released on July 10, 2010.
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==Reception== ==Reception==
{{Anchor|Critics|Critical response}} {{Anchor|Critics|Critical response}}
The film received mixed reviews. The film received mixed reviews.
] gives the film a score of 40% based on 50 reviews. The sites consensus states "Middle Men benefits from a solid cast, particularly Luke Wilson, but its muddled script lets them down".<ref>{{cite web {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|40|5.6|52|''Middle Men'' benefits from a solid cast, particularly Luke Wilson, but its muddled script lets them down.}}<ref>{{cite web
| title = Middle Men (2010) | title = Middle Men
| url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/middle_men/ | url = https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/middle_men/
| publisher = ] | publisher = ]
| accessdate = May 2, 2015 | access-date = January 25, 2024
}} }}
</ref> </ref>
] gives the film a weighted average score of 60% based on reviews from 20 critics.<ref>{{cite web {{Metacritic film prose|60|20}}<ref>{{cite web
| title = Middle Men | title = Middle Men
| url = https://www.metacritic.com/movie/middle-men | url = https://www.metacritic.com/movie/middle-men
| publisher = ] | publisher = ]
| access-date = January 25, 2024
}} }}
</ref> </ref>


{{Anchor|Box Office}} {{Anchor|Box Office}}
The film grossed only $754,301 at the box office during its three-week run. The budget was $20 million.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web The film grossed only $754,301 at the box office during its three-week run.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1251757/ | title=Middle Men }}</ref> The budget was $20 million.<ref name="mojo">{{cite web
| title = Middle Men | title = Middle Men
| url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=middlemen.htm | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=middlemen.htm
| publisher = ] | publisher = ]
| accessdate = May 2, 2015 | access-date = May 2, 2015
}} }}
</ref> </ref>


==Home media== ==Home media==
''Middle Men'' was released February 8, 2011. ''Middle Men'' was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 8, 2011.


{{Anchor|Music}} {{Anchor|Music}}
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;Score ;Score
{{Track listing {{Track listing
| collapsed = yes
| all_writing = ] | all_writing = ]
| total_length = | total_length =
| title1 = My Name Is Jack Harris | title1 = My Name Is Jack Harris
| length1 = 1:46 | length1 = 1:46
| title2 = Middle Men | title2 = Middle Men
| length2 = 2:21 | length2 = 2:21
| title3 = Tightrope | title3 = Tightrope
| length3 = 2:42 | length3 = 2:42
| title4 = Wayne And Buck | title4 = Wayne And Buck
| length4 = 2:09 | length4 = 2:09
| title5 = Broken | title5 = Broken
| length5 = 4:07 | length5 = 4:07
| title6 = Down The Rabbit Hole | title6 = Down The Rabbit Hole
| length6 = 2:47 | length6 = 2:47
| title7 = Boat Ride | title7 = Boat Ride
| length7 = 2:23 | length7 = 2:23
| title8 = Back To LA | title8 = Back To LA
| length8 = 1:42 | length8 = 1:42
| title9 = Aimless Electricity Upon Touching | title9 = Aimless Electricity Upon Touching
| length9 = 4:30 | length9 = 4:30
| title10 = Paranoia | title10 = Paranoia
| length10 = 2:11 | length10 = 2:11
| title11 = Friendly Warning | title11 = Friendly Warning
| length11 = 3:22 | length11 = 3:22
| title12 = Guilt | title12 = Guilt
| length12 = 3:29 | length12 = 3:29
| title13 = Trouble | title13 = Trouble
| length13 = 1:57 | length13 = 1:57
| title14 = FBI | title14 = FBI
| length14 = 2:55 | length14 = 2:55
| title15 = Alejandro | title15 = Alejandro
| length15 = 2:30 | length15 = 2:30
| title16 = Full Circle | title16 = Full Circle
| length16 = 2:36 | length16 = 2:36
| title17 = Middle Men Finale | title17 = Middle Men Finale
| length17 = 3:07 | length17 = 3:07
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;Soundtrack ;Soundtrack
{{Track listing {{Track listing
| collapsed = yes
| extra_column = Artist(s) | extra_column = Artist(s)
| total_length = | total_length =
| title1 = ] | title1 = ]
| note1 = cover of Bo Diddley, 1956; released 1978 | note1 = cover of Bo Diddley, 1956; released 1978
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==External links== ==External links==
<!-- See ] Try to add links as inline references instead --> <!-- See ] Try to add links as inline references instead -->
* {{Official website|http://www.middlemenmovie.com}} * {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20180324011608/http://www.middlemenmovie.com/}}
* {{IMDb title|1251757|Middle Men}} * {{IMDb title|1251757|Middle Men}}
* {{Allmovie title|494419|Middle Men}}
* {{Mojo title|middlemen|Middle Men}} * {{Mojo title|middlemen|Middle Men}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|middle_men|Middle Men}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|middle_men|Middle Men}}
* {{Tcmdb title|738251|Middle Men}} * {{TCMDb title|738251|Middle Men}}


{{George Gallo}} {{George Gallo}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Middle Men}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Middle Men}}
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Latest revision as of 02:16, 22 December 2024

2009 American drama film
Middle Men
Theatrical poster
Directed byGeorge Gallo
Written byGeorge Gallo
Andy Weiss
Produced byChristopher Mallick
William Sherak
Jason Shuman
Michael Weiss
StarringLuke Wilson
Giovanni Ribisi
Gabriel Macht
James Caan
CinematographyLukas Ettlin
Edited byMalcolm Campbell
Music byBrian Tyler
Production
companies		Oxymoron Entertainment
Mallick Media
Blue Star Entertainment
Distributed byParamount Pictures (through Paramount Vantage)
Release dates
  • May 17, 2009 (2009-05-17) (Cannes)
  • August 6, 2010 (2010-08-06) (United States)
Running time105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million
Box office$754,301

Middle Men is a 2009 American drama film directed by George Gallo and written by Gallo and Andy Weiss. It stars Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht and James Caan. The movie is based on the experiences of Christopher Mallick, who was previously associated with the internet billing company Epoch and was the founder of ePassporte. Christopher Mallick has been accused of stealing millions of dollars from his customers at ePassporte to fund the creation of the film.

Plot

In 2004 Houston, Jack Harris leaves home with several million dollars in a duffel bag, to pay Russian mobsters. Harris is worried about the safety of his wife Diana and their children.

Flashback to 1997 in Los Angeles, where Jack helps a sick friend managing a nightclub. Nearby, Wayne Beering and Buck Dolby are best friends renting together. The drug-addicted friends are watching porn movie reels when Wayne asks why there is no porn on the internet. Buck, a former NASA scientist, takes 15 minutes to create a program to allow online credit card transactions to charge people for looking at dirty pictures on their website. They quickly earn thousands of dollars. Needing more porn content they approach Nikita Sokoloff, a Russian mob boss who owns a local strip club; Sokoloff agrees to 25% of their business in return for letting them photograph and film his strippers.

Within a month Buck and Wayne's website is hugely successful. They party in Las Vegas while neglecting payments to Sokoloff. Jack has made the LA nightclub a success and attracts the attention of Jerry Haggerty, a crooked lawyer hired by Wayne and Buck to sort out their problem with Sokoloff. Jack meets the friends and becomes a partner in the business, paying Haggerty $200,000 to get out, knowing Haggerty is under federal indictment and thus a threat to the business.

Sokoloff's nephew comes to collect his $400,000 profit, but when he threatens to kill Jack's family, one of Jack's body guards punches him so hard that he falls dead. Jack and his partners dump the body in the ocean and fabricate a story that Sokoloff's nephew took the money and ran. Sokoloff is skeptical, but agrees to let it pass in return for an increase to 50% of the partnership.

Jack expands the business by dropping their porn site and focusing on the online credit card billing services. They create a billing company called "24/7 billing.com", becoming the titular Middle Men for other internet-based porn providers. The billing business is making hundreds of millions of dollars within a year. Jack becomes addicted to the money, sex and power of his new L.A. lifestyle, spends little time with his Houston family and starts a relationship with porn star Audrey Dawns.

Haggerty, bitter that Jack cut him out of a multimillion dollar partnership, schemes to take over the company. He easily manipulates the foolish Wayne and Buck to work with Denny Z, providing billing services for Denny's numerous child pornography websites.

Audrey's live stream porn site is watched by an international web of terrorists, which the US Government uses to track and arrest or kill the terrorists. The FBI asks for Jack and Audrey's help to expand their terrorist hunt, but Wayne and Buck fear that Jack is meeting with the FBI to turn them in for the murder of Sokoloff's nephew and the child porn. The two confide in Haggerty about killing Sokoloff's nephew, which Haggerty uses to incite Sokoloff to make a move on Jack.

Jack's life is further complicated when Sokoloff's men kidnap his maid's son, who they believe is Jack's son. Jack gathers up several million dollars and goes to meet Sokoloff, as seen at the start of the film.

Jack is told that the boy will be released if he signs a contract giving his partnership share to Wayne, Buck, Sokoloff, and Haggerty. Jack signs the agreement but backdates it to before Denny Z's child porn business was added. Sokoloff shoots Haggerty dead but lets Jack go as thanks for all the money he has made him.

Jack's FBI friend charges Sokoloff, Wayne and Buck with providing billing services for child porn. They turn states evidence against Denny Z for a reduced sentence. Sokoloff flees the country and is alleged to be in Moscow. Jack and the maid's son return home, where Diane welcomes Jack back into their family.

Cast

Release

Middle Men was released on August 6, 2010.

The first official theatrical trailer for the film was released on June 16, 2010.

A red band trailer was released on July 10, 2010.

A long take sequence taking place at an orgy was cut from the film. The scene's inclusion would have pushed the film from an R rating to an NC17 rating. The scene was subsequently leaked to adult video clip website Pornhub. It was subsequently included on the home-video release.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 40% of 52 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Middle Men benefits from a solid cast, particularly Luke Wilson, but its muddled script lets them down." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 60 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

The film grossed only $754,301 at the box office during its three-week run. The budget was $20 million.

Home media

Middle Men was released on Blu-ray and DVD on February 8, 2011.

Music

Two soundtrack albums were released, both on August 3, 2010: Middle Men: Original Motion Picture Score, composed by Brian Tyler, and Middle Men: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, collecting songs used in the film.

Score

All tracks are written by Brian Tyler

No.TitleLength
1."My Name Is Jack Harris"1:46
2."Middle Men"2:21
3."Tightrope"2:42
4."Wayne And Buck"2:09
5."Broken"4:07
6."Down The Rabbit Hole"2:47
7."Boat Ride"2:23
8."Back To LA"1:42
9."Aimless Electricity Upon Touching"4:30
10."Paranoia"2:11
11."Friendly Warning"3:22
12."Guilt"3:29
13."Trouble"1:57
14."FBI"2:55
15."Alejandro"2:30
16."Full Circle"2:36
17."Middle Men Finale"3:07
Soundtrack
No.TitleWriter(s)Artist(s)Length
1."Who Do You Love?" (cover of Bo Diddley, 1956; released 1978)Ellas McDanielGeorge Thorogood4:20
2."You Make My Dreams" (1981)Sara Allen, Daryl Hall, John OatesHall & Oates3:10
3."Honey" (1998)Moby, Bessie JonesMoby3:28
4."Sympathy for the Devil" (1968)Jagger/RichardsThe Rolling Stones6:17
5."How Bizarre" (1995)Alan Jansson, Pauly FuemanaOMC3:44
6."Oye Como Va" (1963)PuenteTito Puente5:49
7."Buona Sera" (1956)Carl Sigman, Peter DeRoseLouis Prima3:00
8."Sweet Dreams (of You)" (cover of Don Gibson, 1956; released 1963)Don GibsonPatsy Cline2:33
9."Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (1985)Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, Chris HughesTears for Fears4:09
10."Freeze Frame" (1982)Seth Justman, Peter WolfJ. Geils Band3:56
11."Bodyrock" (1999)MobyMoby3:35
12."You Can't Always Get What You Want" (1969)Jagger/RichardsThe Rolling Stones7:28
13."The Way You Move" (2003)Big Boi, Carl-Mo, Sleepy BrownOutkast (featuring Sleepy Brown)3:54
14."California Love (Remix)" (1995)Joe Cocker, Woodrow Cunningham, Norman Durham, Mikel Hooks, Ronald Hudson, Christopher Stainton, Larry Troutman, Roger Troutman2Pac (featuring Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman)6:23
15."24-7"TylerBrian Tyler5:58
16."Middle Men Suite"TylerBrian Tyler5:56

References

  1. Rich, Katey (2010-02-19). "Paramount Picks Up Luke Wilson Indie Middle Men". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Middle Men". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 2, 2015.
  3. "Middle Men - Box Office Data, Movie News, Cast Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  4. Dave McNary (September 18, 2008). "Wilson, Ribisi to star in 'Middle Men'". Variety. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  5. Sanjiv Bhattacharya (2011-03-01). "Inside Hollywoods Greatest Vanity Project". Details. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  6. "AVN - 'After Porn Ends' Gets Life After Porn on iTunes". Business.avn.com. 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  7. "Following the Money, ePassporte Edition — Krebs on Security". krebsonsecurity.com. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  8. "AVN - ePassporte CEO Issues Statement to Calm the Masses". Business.avn.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  9. "Middle Men Full Trailer". The Film Stage. June 16, 2010. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  10. TMZ Staff (July 23, 2010). "Luke Wilson's New Movie -- Deleted Orgy Scene". TMZ.
  11. "Middle Men". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  12. "Middle Men". Metacritic. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  13. "Middle Men".

External links

Films directed by George Gallo
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