Plot
A mobster travels to Hollywood to collect a debt and discovers that the movie business is much the same as his current job.
Release Year: 1995
Rating: 6.9/10 (39,886 voted)
Critic's Score: 82/100
Director:
Barry Sonnenfeld
Stars: Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito
Storyline Some guys get all the luck, whether they like it or not. Chili Palmer happens to be in Hollywood collecting a gambling debt when he's struck by lightning (not literally). Called a natural for the movie business, he's snagged up by a producer. The rest is history.
Writers: Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
Cast: John Travolta
-
Chili Palmer
Gene Hackman
-
Harry Zimm
Rene Russo
-
Karen Flores
Danny DeVito
-
Martin Weir
Dennis Farina
-
Ray 'Bones' Barboni
Delroy Lindo
-
Bo Catlett
James Gandolfini
-
Bear
Jon Gries
-
Ronnie Wingate
Renee Props
-
Nicki
David Paymer
-
Leo Devoe
Martin Ferrero
-
Tommy Carlo
Miguel Sandoval
-
Mr. Escobar
Jacob Vargas
-
Yayo Portillo
Linda Hart
-
Fay Devoe
Bobby Slayton
-
Dick Allen
Filming Locations: 1017 N Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $30,250,000
(estimated)
Gross: $72,077,000
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: John Travolta initially declined an offer to be in this movie, but was convinced by Quentin Tarantino to do it.
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
Chili Palmer says "Well do you see a black leather jacket, fingertip length like Al Pacino wore in
Serpico?'" Pacino didn't wear such a costume in that movie.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Tommy Carlo:
It's fucking cold outside.
User Review
Like an ol' familiar song, done with some twists. Nice casting
Rating:
Barry Sonnenfeld was and maybe wasn't the right choice to make Get Shorty.
He's a great visualist, and his films (Adams Family, Men in Black) are also
very funny, but it's hard to say whether or not another director might've
taken Elmore Leonard's sly comic novel more seriously or with less depth.
As it is, however, Get Shorty is a cool little treat that doesn't over-stay
its welcome, and provides its cast a plethora of witty dialog. John
Travolta brings on some sharp attitude, knowing the angles and wanting, as
his character Chili Palmer, to get into Hollywood and out of loan sharking.
Gene Hackman's funny as a fledgling producer with his first, true big hit in
his lap. And supporting parts from Delroy Lindo, Renne Russo, Danny De Vito
(as 'Hollywood' as you'll ever see him), and James Gandolfini, are all very
worthy. It's a worthwhile watch, with a dead-on score from John Lurie. But
I would reccomend Out of Sight or Jackie Brown to Leonard fans looking for a
great adaptation. It's a very good Hollywood picture (reflective of what
it's about), though it's not a masterpiece. A-
0