Movie Description
This slick adaptation of Elmore Leonard's 1990 novel features John Travolta as Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark who's been sent to L.A. to collect on a bad debt from trash movie producer Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), the maker of the stunning flops "Grotesque" and "Slime People." But this is Harry's lucky day, because Chili is also a film buff, and when he's done talking tough he starts pitching Harry a script idea. As everyone knows, the best background for the motion picture industry is the criminal underworld, and Chili is smoothly launched into the life of a producer: romancing a B-movie scream queen, schmoozing superstars, getting reservations in the hottest restaurants in town. However, Chili's not the only mobster wanting to turn producer. It seems that a thug named Bo Catlett (Delroy Lindo), another of Harry's lenders, also wants a piece of the action. Add in a group of angry drug smugglers and there is an abundance of double- and triple-crosses, as well as plenty of wisecracks and Hollywood insider jokes. GET SHORTY crosses the line of life imitating art--and vice versa--many times, including the real Ernest "Chili" Palmer (on whom the character is based) playing a Mafia henchman. Barry Sonnenfeld's entertaining romp is a wild look at the celebrity life in Hollywood, featuring numerous cameos of stars playing themselves.
| Credits | | Cast: | David Paymer, Dennis Farina, James Gandolfini |
| Details | | Edition: | Standard and Letterbox | | Sound: | Stereo Sound, Surround Sound |
Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Full Frame - 1.33
Single Side - Single Layer
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Dolby Digital Stereo - Spanish
Additional Release Material:
Trailer
Additional Products:
Collectible Booklet, Theatrical release: October 20, 1995.
The real-life Ernest "Chilli" Palmer (on whom the lead character is based) plays a bit part in the film as one of Bones's buddies.
The film grossed $68.8 million domestically.
Continuity error: After Chili's bag is searched at the airport, he carefully repacks it and then leaves the room without it.
Editorial Reviews
"...Elmore Leonard's deliciously profane dialogue gives a great cast, led by John Travolta, a feast to dine upon....GET SHORTY gets it wonderfully right..."
Rolling Stone - p.73-4 - Peter Travers
"...GET SHORTY is certainly entertaining..."
Sight and Sound - p.42-3 - John Wrathall
"...Sizzling supporting performances by Dennis Farina and Delroy Lindo....[Travolta] oozes cool without breaking a sweat..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
USA Today - p.1D - Mike Clark
"...All the elements finally jelled, goosed by a terrific John Travolta performance..." -- Rating: A-
Entertainment Weekly - pp.66-7 - Ty Burr
"...GET SHORTY is good, sly fun. With John Travolta putting on a dazzling demonstration of what being a movie star is all about..."
Variety - Todd McCarthy
"...The film does a good job with the book's gentle digs at the inane way the movie business tends to function..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (10/20/1995)
"...A small jewel..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (10/20/1995)
"[A] faithful adaptation of Elmore Leonard for a change....Memorable."
Uncut - Brian Case (04/01/2005)
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