Get Shorty

another great book turned into a mediocre movie. I had hopes for this one, considering the last few Elmore Leonard novels-turned-movies turned out great, but this one was a constant disappointment. Rene Russo did a pretty good job as Karen Flores, and Travolta did "ok" as Chili, but other than that I think every character was mis-cast, and because of it, most of them fell flat and lacked depth. I have to recommend that you read the book, and steer clear of the movie, or check out one of the other movies based on Elmore Leonard books, like Out of Sight or Jackie Brown, both of which were much better...

John Travolta, Rene Russo, Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Dennis Farina, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini. The only name that mattered was on the signature of their checks as distributed by over rated director Barry Sonnenfeld. Now, I have no ax to grind, and watched this at home twice over 12 months to ensure I wasn't angry at the world the first time. No, I'm just disappointed that I wasted roughly an hour and a half (twice) waiting for this diarrhea to gel into a reasonable movie. How can you expect to have any suspension of disbelief belief when the dialog sounds like it's written by idiots like me? There were a few instances where a funny line should have been inserted as when Gene Hackman was reduced to eating through a straw, but all that was uttered by our leading dud was, "suck hard". That line sums up the movie experience

It's sometimes funny, specially some dialogues. But overall it didn't really grab me. We get John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo and even James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano with beard!) but it's just not that. OK, the plot is nicely done. With the actual movie going together with the making of the movie by Travolta and Hackman. And there are some good scenes like the one were Travolta gives Danny DeVito acting lessons in how to look mean. But mainly that's it. I think they could have done more with such a top cast. 5 out of 10.

John Travolta IS Chili Palmer in this fab film adaption of Elmore Leonard's "Get Shorty". This film is great to watch just for the lines, which are all pearls shot at ligthening speed. The charactors and names are as colorful as Miami and Hollywood can be. Chili, Moe-Moe, Bones, Yayo, Bear, Beau and Harry Zimm. As the guy said, "Where do they get these names, anyway?" In this film Travolta is "Married to the Mob" but he wants to star in "Hollywood". This video is in my "time to pop this baby in the VCR, cuz I gotta laugh myself out of this blue-funk" file. Try it when you need a laughter treatment.

John Travolta stars as a hit man who goes to Hollywood to collect a debt.While he is there he discovers that he is in the wrong business..he should be in pictures.. Travolta is brilliant in this excellent adaption of the Elmore Leonard novel..this is a bright sharp witty satire of the hollywood scent that probably hits dead on.. On a scale of one to ten..8

I'm not a Travolta fan. I would never have rented this. As it turns out, some scripts are just actor-proof. Gene Hackman as the most clueless Hollywood outsider is the reason to see this. He's so good as an unreasonably cocky idiot. It is a beautiful thing to watch him flake his way through power-brokering scenes, while all those around him cringe & roll their eyes. A few scenes really sell it; the acting lesson with Danny DeVito. The "It's the Cadillac of mini-vans." line. etc. Structurally it's a lot of fun. The possibility that Russo would have been the incompetent Hackman's girl prior to Travolta is a bit of a stretch. Hollywood makes about three comedies aimed at intelligent adults a decade. This was one of them from the 90s.

The first adaptation of an Elmore Leonard book that actually carries his magical dialogue. Travolta leads an all-star cast through an witfully funny story of a mobster who thought he had his problems in Miami. Being a toughguy is nothing compared to trying to make it in Hollywood. Just a purely fun movie. "Look at me Harry."

There are inevitable comparisons to "Pulp Fiction," which features cute dialogue and Travolta playing a similar character. But in my opinion, this film is much better than that over-hyped mishmash of ridiculous scenes. This is a great satire that doesn't take itself too seriously. Who couldn't be amused by the idea of brutal, heartless mobsters and drug dealers dying to get into the movie business? The dialogue is dead-on. This movie is not knock-down funny, but its steady flow and subtle black humor is a winner.