Get Shorty (1995)

Director:

Barry Sonnenfeld

Writers (WGA):

Elmore Leonard (novel)
Scott Frank (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 October 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Attitude Plays a Part.

Plot:

A mobster travels to Hollywood to collect a debt and discovers that the movie business is much the same as his current job.

Plot Keywords:

Money | Organized Crime | Locker | Drug Lord | Insurance Fraud

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 9 nominations

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

Also Known As:

Nombre del juego, El (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
Schnappt Shorty (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Cómo conquistar Hollywood (Spain) [es]
C'est le petit qu'il nous faut (Canada: French title) [fr]
Dorwac malego (Poland) [pl]
Get Shorty (Sweden) [sv]
Get Shorty (Stars et truands) (France) [fr]
Get Shorty - hyvä pätkä (Finland) [fi]
Jogos Quase Perigosos (Portugal) [pt]
Kdo bo koga (Slovenia) [sl]
Nome do Jogo, O (Brazil) [pt]
Piaste ton konto (Greece) [el]
Szóljatok a köpcösnek! (Hungary) [hu]
Tfos et Shorty (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Tut su bücürü (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some violence.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:R (certificate #33866) | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A (DVD rating) | Denmark:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:15 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Taiwan:R-18 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Jersey Films

Trivia:

Cameo: ['Penny Marshall' ]Plays the director of the movie-within-a-movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: Items on Harry's desk change and move around when he is talking to Ray Bones.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tommy Carlo: It's fucking cold outside.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nel cuore della notte (2002)

Soundtrack:

Aw Mercy

Like an ol' familiar song, done with some twists. Nice casting

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-