Get Shorty (film)
| Get Shorty | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Barry Sonnenfeld |
| Produced by | Danny DeVito Michael Shamberg Stacey Sher |
| Screenplay by | Scott Frank |
| Based on | Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard |
| Starring | John Travolta Gene Hackman Rene Russo Danny DeVito |
| Music by | John Lurie |
| Cinematography | Donald Peterman[1] |
| Editing by | Jim Miller |
| Studio | Jersey Films |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $30,250,000[2] |
| Box office | $115,101,622[3] |
Get Shorty is a 1995 crime-comedy film based on Elmore Leonard's novel of the same name. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld and starring John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, and Danny DeVito, the plot remained true to the book except for a few minor details.
The sequel Be Cool began production in 2003 and was released in 2005. It was based on the novel of the same name published in 1999.
Contents |
Plot [edit]
Chili Palmer (Travolta), a loan shark based in Miami, clashes with another mobster, Ray "Bones" Barboni (Farina). After several confrontations, Barboni tries to get his boss, Jimmy Capp (Rocco) involved. Capp refuses to get involved. When Palmer's boss, Momo, dies of a heart attack, he finds himself working for Barboni, whose first order is for Palmer to collect an $18,000 debt owed by Leo Devoe (Paymer). Devoe was believed to have been killed in a fatal commercial airliner crash, but had actually gotten off the plane, and failed to re-board. After the plane crash, Devoe's wife identifies his personal effects, and the airline offers her a check for $300,000. When Chili visits her, she tells him Leo is still alive, and partying in Las Vegas.
While in Vegas, Palmer picks up a job from a casino manager (Slayton) to collect a debt from B-movie producer Harry Zimm (Hackman). When Palmer locates Zimm at the home of actress Karen Flores (Russo), Zimm agrees to pay the money he owes in 90 days. Palmer then pitches a movie idea: a thinly veiled story of his own recent life. Zimm is interested in the concept, but he has financial problems: He owes $200,000 to drug dealer Bo Catlett (Lindo). Palmer says he will help Zimm take care of it. Palmer tracks down Devoe and collects the $300,000 in insurance money. Palmer returns to Karen's house the next day, and asks Karen out. Karen is the ex-wife of actor Martin Weir (DeVito), who Palmer wants to star in his life story. With Karen, Palmer pitches Weir the story idea. Weir seems interested.
When Catlett visits Zimm for a progress report about the film he is supposedly financing, Palmer tells Catlett that Zimm has a project he needs to finish first. Catlett wants to produce the new film, Mr. Lovejoy, but Zimm claims he cannot do that. Catlett and his sidekick Ronnie (Gries) then threaten Zimm, saying they want their money back. Zimm calls Ray Barboni in Miami, and tells him Chili has recovered the money from Leo Devoe. Barboni flies to Los Angeles, confronts Zimm in his office, and beats him when he does not reveal the location of Chili and the money. When Ronnie walks in, Ray shoots him, then puts the gun in Zimm's hand. Doris (Midler), Zimm's girlfriend, calls Karen and tells her that Zimm is in the hospital.
Desperate for money, Catlett kidnaps Karen and demands the money that Chili has gotten back from Leo Devoe. Though Chili gives him the money, Catlett reneges on their deal. Catlett's henchman, Bear (Gandolfini), starts beating Chili on Catlett's balcony. In the struggle, Catlett is pushed over the balcony and falls to his death. At his hotel, Barboni confronts Palmer, finds an airport locker key, and assumes the money is hidden in the locker. At the airport, upon opening the locker, Barboni is confronted by police and arrested.
On a studio set, Harvey Keitel is playing Ray Barboni and Martin Weir is Palmer. Penny Marshall is directing, with Zimm as executive producer, Chili and Karen as co-producers. Bear appears as a technical consultant.
Cast [edit]
- John Travolta as Chili Palmer
- Gene Hackman as Harry Zimm
- Rene Russo as Karen Flores
- Danny DeVito as Martin Weir
- Dennis Farina as Ray "Bones" Barboni
- Bette Midler as Doris Saffrin
- Delroy Lindo as Bo Catlett
- James Gandolfini as Bear
- Jon Gries as Ronnie Wingate
- Renee Props as Nicki
- David Paymer as Leo Devoe
- Martin Ferrero as Tommy Carlo
- Miguel Sandoval as Mr. Escobar
- Jacob Vargas as Yayo Portillo
- Bobby Slayton as Dick Allen
- Linda Hart as Fay Devoe
- Cameos
- Harvey Keitel as himself
- Penny Marshall as herself
- Jane Fonda as a Las Vegas casino cocktail waitress
- Barry Sonnenfeld as the Beefeater doorman
- Alex Rocco appears as the gangster Jimmy Capp
Production [edit]
At the beginning of the film, Ray Bones has two thugs with him; one of them is played by actor Ernest "Chili" Palmer. Palmer was author Elmore Leonard's model for the character in the book. According to a newspaper article, he claims not to have been involved with gangsters or loan sharking. When the filmmakers found out from Leonard that there was a real "Chili" Palmer, they gave him a bit part in the film.[4]
Reception [edit]
Get Shorty received general critical acclaim and currently holds an 86% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[5] The film was entered into the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.[6]
The film opened at #1 upon its release (10/20-22) with $12,700,007.[7] Get Shorty remained #1 for three consecutive weeks before being overtaken by Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.[8]
American Film Institute lists
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs - Nominated[9]
- AFI's 10 Top 10 - Nominated Gangster Film[10]
References [edit]
- ^ "Perry Moore, 'Narnia' series executive producer, dies at 39; Don Peterman, Oscar-nominated cinematographer, dies at 79; Nancy Carr, network TV publicist, dies at 50". Los Angeles Times. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
- ^ "Box Office/Business for Get Shorty". IMDB. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ "Get Shorty". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ Anne E. Kornblut (November 5, 1995). "The Real Chili Palmer". New York Daily News. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ Get Shorty at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ "Berlinale: 1996 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ^ Robert W. Welkos (24 October 1995). "Weekend Box Office : 'Shorty' Stands Tall in Ticket Sales". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office November 10–12, 1995". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs Nominees
- ^ AFI's 10 Top 10 Ballot
External links [edit]
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Get Shorty |
- Get Shorty at the Internet Movie Database
- Get Shorty (film) at AllRovi
- Get Shorty (film) at the TCM Movie Database
- Get Shorty at Box Office Mojo
- Get Shorty at Rotten Tomatoes
- Get Shorty at Metacritic
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- 1995 films
- English-language films
- 1990s comedy films
- 1990s crime films
- American criminal comedy films
- Films about filmmaking
- Films based on works by Elmore Leonard
- Films based on novels
- Films directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
- Films set in Los Angeles, California
- Films set in Miami, Florida
- Mafia comedies
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
