andrewgoulding.com - Get-Shorty

Get Shorty

Movies Get Shorty movie review: stars Travolta Hackman Russo Devito

Get Shorty

If ever you needed any proof that John Travolta was this generation's Cary Grant, then look no further than Get Shorty from Danny Devito's Jersey Films, a marvellous black comedy about how to get a movie made in Hollywood.

Get Shorty trailer

Get Shorty is an adaptation of Leonard's original novel. Incidentally, John Travolta had turned down the role of Chili Palmer until Quentin Tarantino convinced him "to read the book..."

Get Shorty novel

"...It's no wonder so many of Elmore Leonard's books make it to the big screen and Get Shorty is no exception. It's a great read that makes you sad that it has to end, like a best friend who just couldn't stay..." Amazon reviewer, Karl J. Niemech

"...Get Shorty is classic Elmore Leonard: While other people write "crime fiction," Leonard's come up with a masterful social comedy that happens to be about criminals (and other fast operators). He's a master of snappy dialogue and dizzying plot twists. The best parts of Get Shorty move along so briskly you almost forget there's somebody with a firm control over the story. And you'll be rooting for Chili to get the money, the girl, and the studio deal..." Amazon blurb

Travolta effortlessly stomps across every scene as loan-shark Chili Palmer, whether it's:

putting the squeeze on Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman) a Z-movie producer for $200,000 that Zimm owes a casino
charming Zimm's lover and Z-movie actress Karen Flores (Renee Russo) with his knowledge of both her Z-movie work...and classic Hollywood movies or
mesmerising twice Oscar-nominated actor Martin Short (Danny Devito) Karen's ex-husband, with his carrot & stick approach to method acting, while subtly selling him a movie idea

...And that movie idea is Get Shorty. It's a script within a film, which is being written as you watch the movie...and from the very first bars of the hip Sixties Booker-T type soundtrack you know this is going to be one c-o-o-l ride, daddy-o!

Of course there's a convoluted plot for these wonderful characters to move around in, as well as some fabulous supporting actor performances but essentially, that's all peripheral. We want Chili to win and he does. We want Chili to get the girl and he does. Hell, we just want to be Chili!

Funnily enough, although it was released in 1996, Get Shorty still looks frighteningly contemporary except for two small things:

the lack of cell phones &
the choice of Penny Marshall as a happening director in the final scene

So, the bottom line is that this is a cheeky feel-good comic movie designed for adults who want to let their hair down for a while, without having their minds insulted:

Yes, there's comic book violence, even a murder but the way it's done shouldn't perturb most of us
No, you may not be able to "relate" to this rag-taggle of mostly reprehensible characters
But I say, why not sit back and let the love of movies take you on a ride and get you thinking as to how you can dream up the next celluloid classic

I loved Get Shorty, it's hip and oh so much fun. Unlike many other The Collectors Editions, this one has a lot of worthwhile extras and director Sonnenfeld's enlightening audio commentary, which really tie in Elmore Leonard's original novel.

Get Shorty DVD

"...Hilariously clever plot which glides from gangsters to Hollywood. Dennis Farina is a standout in a perfectly casted film..." Amazon reviewer Good Memory Gal

The Get Shorty soundtrack chugs along with some very cool 60s R'n'B, stuff that just makes you feel good...

Get Shorty soundtrack

"...This CD would be great even if it wasn't the soundtrack to a wonderfully fun movie. The jazz is light enough to be enjoyed by most..." Amazon reviewer Lavina Rivera