Review of Get Shorty

Introduction

Just as `Be Cool`, the long awaited follow-up to `Get Shorty` is about to hit the screens in the U.S, this superbly timed special edition release celebrates the tenth anniversary of this brilliant movie.

Elmore Leonard`s fiction seems to work well in film. His own angle on this (found in the special feature interviews included in this pack) is that he writes so much dialogue into his narratives, and that makes the job of penning a screenplay so much easier. Tarantino`s superb `Jackie Brown` (another adaptation of Leonard`s work) came hot on the heels of the success of this movie, and John Travolta`s involvement in the role of Chili Palmer came after his success less than a year previously in `Pulp Fiction`. Such is the nature of Hollywood and filmmaking. Which leads me back to the plot of this wonderful movie that is essentially a glorious and cynically comedic attack on Hollywood.

Chili Palmer (based on loan-shark friend of Leonard`s who had exactly that name) is a loan shark in Miami when he`s called upon to retrieve $300,000. Next stop L.A.

The incredibly cool Palmer, played inimitably by the ultra-confident Travolta, makes his first-call at notorious schlock-horror Producer Harry Zimm`s pad (played beautifully straight by Gene Hackman). Zimm is in it up to his eyeballs, but soon has Palmer intrigued by the idea of raising funds for a movie idea, which involves casting Oscar winning Martin Weir (Danny DeVito) in the lead. (Hence the title, `Get Shorty`).

Of course, the movie business is never straightforward, and Palmer has other business to attend to as well. To make matters worse for Zimm and Palmer`s movie project, one of his unscrupulous `investors` turns up, Bo (Delroy Lindo), along with an old rival of Chili`s, Ray Barboni (Dennis Farina), and they`re demanding money with plenty of menace.


The cast at the core of this movie play like a dream. Travolta makes the part of Chili Palmer so definitely his own that it`s difficult to imagine how anyone else could ever have been considered. (Amazingly Danny DeVito was the first choice for that role, though that seems unimaginable!). DeVito turns in a cruelly accurate portrayal as an over-confident, self-focused Hollywood actor - a part he was made for! And Hackman is brilliant as the down on his luck B-Movie mogul, Zimm.


Barry Sonnenfeld, who`s Directing experience includes `The Addams Family` and `Big`, indulges in the kind-of incredibly choreographed camerawork that he cut his own teeth on as Cinematographer for the Coen Brothers amongst others. Every sequence is stylishly cut, and carefully planned and much of his Directing style can be gleaned from the many extras included in this pack.

It`s difficult to classify `Get Shorty`. It`s a kind of crime thriller but it mines a very rich seam of (cynical) comedy too and is a completely acidic attack on Hollywood and its many constituents. You get the feeling that it was a film that was a lot of fun to make, and there`s no doubt that, ten years on, it`s still a lot of fun to watch.

Video

This is 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and is a very nice transfer. Having recently revisited the Coen Brothers works on some nice transfers, it`s easy to recognise Sonnenfeld`s visual style, which interestingly has a little softness to it that is unusual in an age of high definition.

Audio

There`s a choice of 5.1 DTS Surround, or 5.1 Dolby Surround. It`s a great soundtrack with sparkling dialogue and John Lurie`s urban soft jazz works just great. There`s not too much to get excited about with the 5.1 though effort has been made to ensure that you get at least one aeroplane fly right over your head...

Features

Audio Commentary with Barry Sonnenfeld

It`s on the audio commentary that you notice just how camp Director Barry Sonneneld sounds. But there`s nothing wrong with that of course, and his makes a lively commentary throughout with lots of interesting anecdotes as well as plenty of background, both technical and otherwise. Well worth the time, and extremely entertaining in its own right.


"Get Shorty": Look at Me

A `making-of` featurette kicks off with an interview with Leonard who says that he was amused by `…the idea of a loan shark who`s right at home in Hollywood`. There are also interviews with John Travolta and Danny DeVito who discuss their characters in detail.

"Get Shorty": Wiseguys and Dolls

Peculiarly, this feels like part two to the previous piece with interview with Rene Russo, Gene Hackman and Barry Sonnenfeld. Very amusing and informative - though why it`s billed as a separate piece to the above is anyone`s guess!

Deleted Graveyard Scene

It`s worth mentioning that this deleted scene, featuring Ben Stiller as a cameraman / director, is a wonderfully funny scene, and, despite having hit the cutting room floor, is an amusing addition here. Sonnenfield discusses the scene before it`s shown in full and he chose to exclude it because it upset the pace of the movie, slowing it down and not really moving on the narrative. Most movies would give their right arm for a scene as strong as this and it`s a testament to `Get Shorty` that even the cast-offs are of the finest quality. (The scene is set in a graveyard during a schlock-horror movie shoot. As Zimm enters the scene with Palmer, the Director is at the top of a crane about to swoop down for a dramatic shot. `Let me do this POV shot and I`ll be with you…` says Stiller. Zimm`s curt response is magical. `Whose fu**ing point of view is that?! Get off that crane or I`ll get another 16 year old to take your place…`. Great stuff!!

Going Again

Danny DeVito and Sonnefield discuss a technique they used to get the very best performances from the cast where they just let the film keep rolling without shouting cut, allowing the performer (in this case DeVito) to go for the lines again and again until they hit the perfect take. With 35mm rolls running for around 11 minutes each, this isn`t a technique you`d use when you`re on a budget and is a method that has really come out of the TV and video industry where stock is cheap.

"Get Shorty" Party Reel

Maybe this was used at a launch party but is real low-quality home movie footage inter-cut with equally bad quality out takes and so on. A bit superfluous really though occasionally amusing, though much has been seen elsewhere amongst the generous offering of extras.

Sneak Peek at "Be Cool"

Some behind-the-scenes footage from the filming f the sequel, `Be Cool` which sees Chili Palmer take on the music industry. At first glance it looks like some face-surgery has put Travolta`s lower face out of action, and the scenes looked a little OTT. But I`ll reserve judgement till I see it. Tough act to follow though!

Page to Screen of "Get Shorty"

Hosted by corn-ball actor Peter Gallagher this TV production takes a look at the work of Elmore Leonard, with contributions from author Martin Amis, Leonard`s researcher, Ernest "Chili" Palmer (the real McCoy) and Elmore Leonard himself.

Photo Gallery

The usual set of superfluous Production stills

Theatrical Trailer

Exactly what you`d expect … but still showing that brilliant graveyard scene.

Easter Eggs

Four of them, but I`ll be damned if I could find them!

Conclusion

What`s not to like about `Get Shorty`? It`s a hell of a movie with a great screenplay adaptation of a first-class Elmore Leonard novel of the same name. Travolta is perfectly cast as the totally cool, heart of gold bad-boy, Chili Palmer. The movie may be an acidic look at Hollywood, but it`s still full of humour and affection. It`s easy to watch, but never patronising and it`s the sort of movie that really holds up to repeated viewings too, so this special edition is well worth adding to your collection. With its sequel, `Be Cool`, just about to hit the silver screens of the US, this well-timed 10 year special edition is an absolute must-have. "I trust you Chili. I think you`re a decent sort of man. Even if you are a crook". Fantastic!