GET SHORTY

US, 1995, 106 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny De Vito, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini, Jon Gries, David Paymer, Miguel Sandoval, Linda Hart, uncredited: Alex Rocco, Penny Marshall, Harvey Keitel, Bette Midler.
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.

There are funny situations, timing and one-liners in Get Shorty. It is a film for filmbuffs and for anyone who has aspired to get into the movie business. It is an adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel, Leonard being of the tough private eye, colloquial school. He has been well served by writer, Scott Frank, and the cast.

John Travolta is at his best, embodying the Florida hatchet man, Chilli Palmer, who discovers he not only loves the movies but has a great story to film - his own. We take it for granted that Gene Hackman is a great serious actor, but he deserves another Oscar nomination for his comic talents as a Z-grade producer who takes himself seriously. And Danny de Vito proves his comic skills. Rough style, but excellent movie-making.

1.Entertaining, critical praise? Elmore Leonard’s work? The movie world? The world of gamblers?

2.The Miami settings, Las Vegas and the casinos, Los Angeles, Hollywood, the mansions, the studios? The Hollywood atmosphere? The touches of realism as well as fantasy? The musical score, moods?

3.The screenplay: verbal wit, situations, plot links and films within films?

4.John Travolta as Chilly Palmer, his coat, the clash with Bones, breaking his nose, shooting him? The barbers and the conversation? Jimmy Capp, the talk about Mommo and New Jersey, Mommo’s death? Bones and his loyalties?

5.The Leo Devoe situation, his gambling, going to the airport, drinking, going off the plane, its crashing, his claiming the insurance, the fraud with his wife? In Las Vegas? Chilly Palmer tracking him down? Bones wanting the money? The encounter in Las Vegas?

6.Las Vegas, Chilly and the discussion with the debt collectors, the information about Harry Zimm? Chilly going to Los Angeles, getting into the house, watching the television, the encounter with Harry, the discussion about the Leo story? Karen and her reaction, his admiring Karen, her twigging with the nature of the story before Harry did?

7.Beau Catlett and Bear? Deals, at the airport, the messenger, taking him back to the house, his bewilderment with the number of lockers, not getting the money? Beau killing him? The confrontation with Harry, the discussion about film-making, Harry’s debts? Getting the screenplay? Beau wanting to be a producer? The discussions with Chilly and Leo’s money? With Harry and the promise to give him half a million dollars? The confrontation with Chilly in the restaurant, his throwing Bear down the steps? The confrontation with Bear? In the house, Beau’s death?

8.Martin Weir and his self-importance, Danny De Vito’s comedy, the posters for Napoleon? The previous marriage with Karen, his being with Nicky? Her knowing Chilly? The discussions, his trying to get the Eye for the film, training by Chilly? His enthusiasm about Mr Lovejoy?

9.Chilly and the set-up by Beau, waiting for him? His going to the airport, his skill in checking out number C17, the authorities picking him up, the interrogation and search? His knowing about the set-up, Bones’s arrival in Los Angeles, the confrontation, the gun, Bones taking the key to the locker and his being caught by the authorities?

10.Karen, sympathetic, actress, horror films, her career, with Harry, with Chilly? Going to see A Touch of Evil, the discussions with Martin?

11.Harry, his gambling, his being the dumb Hollywood director, his horror films, his posters, his home and office? Talking too much, gambling, Beau promising the half a million? The contracts? His hard lines to Bones on the phone?

12.Doris, her arrival, her husband and the screenplay, her coming on to Harry, the contract, at the filming and their being two weeks behind?

13.Harry, his talk, Chilly and the movie references, going to see A Touch of Evil, the gangsters as in the movies?

14.The finale, the making of the film, the transition from Bones to Harvey Keitel? The cameos with Penny Marshall? The making of the film?

15.A piece of Americana, the humour about gangsters in Miami, the world of Las Vegas, the world of Los Angeles and the ins and outs of moviemaking?