Live Life Team
After “Pulp Fiction” revived his career, John Travolta went on to his next film as a gangster in “Get Shorty”. It’s difficult separating the two films – each about gangsters, each with a ridiculous amount of foul language, each with a pretty hip soundtrack. And while “Pulp Fiction” may be one of the most imitated films of the 1990s, “Get Shorty” is no less entertaining.
Travolta plays Chilly Palmer, a talented gangster who’s bored. He knows he can do more than his boss, Momo, is allowing him, and – after ticking off a moronic competitor named Bones – Chilly sees an opportunity when he’s sent on a job. He meets Harry Zimm, a washed-up filmmaker (Gene Hackman), and decides he wants out of organized crime and into the producing business.
Where do characters this idiotic come from, And their names, Only a book by Elmore Leonard. Scott Frank’s adapted script is equally great. Each character is so colourful that I can’t wait to hear what they’re going to say next – the best of whom is Hackman. After watching him in roles like Little Bill in “The Unforgiven”, it’s hard to believe he can pull such an evil SOB and a loser like Harry.
Barry Sonnenfeld, known mainly for his choreography work for the Coen Brothers, directs this comedic version of “Goodfellas”. They’re the same mobsters, but significantly dumber, all except for Travolta. He’s a terrific straight man, and received a much deserved Golden Globe for Best Actor – Comedy.
