I can't believe this movie came out ten years ago. It doesn't seem that old, and it certainly doesn't play that old. I think the reason I never went to see it in the first place is that while I really like Elmore Leonard, I had read the book, and frankly, the book stinks. Knowing that most bad books make worse movies, I stayed away from the film, forgetting that in fact sometimes weak books translate pretty well up on the screen (such as Sharkey's Machine).
Shorty follows the story of Chili Palmer (John Travolta), a mob tough from Miami who gets involved in the movie business almost by accident. Along the way he hooks up with an over the hill director, Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman) and his ex, Karen Flores (Rene Russo). Chili ends up insinuating himself in Hollywood and becoming a major player - but not without a few bumps along the way, most of them provided by local thug Bo Catlett (Delroy Lindo) and an old Miami rival, Ray Barboni (the ever-terrific Dennis Farina).
While the entire cast gives pretty good performances (including Danny Devito as a self-obsessed movie star, Martin Weir), the movie really rests on Travolta's shoulders. While I don't consider Travolta one of the great actors of our time, I do feel when he is particularly suited for a role, he shines. Chili was tailor-made for him and he seems so comfortable in the role he makes it look effortless. Only Farina's dopey, almost parodic mobster comes close to stealing any thunder away from Travolta, but the big man is so at home at the center of this film that he's just a joy to watch.
Shorty has quite a few really good laughs in it as well, from Chili's manhandling of the local muscle to his one liners to a great scene where the weak-willed Zimm tries to act tough over the phone. Farina is always a source of merriment and Leonard's patented brand of cynical ironic humor shines through here far better than it came across in the book.
Get Shorty is worth a look again, not only because they've released a mondo edition with extras (not the version I saw), but because a sequel, Be Cool, is due out soon, and if it's even half as good as this movie was, it should be worth your $7.50 at the metroplex.
Shorty follows the story of Chili Palmer (John Travolta), a mob tough from Miami who gets involved in the movie business almost by accident. Along the way he hooks up with an over the hill director, Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman) and his ex, Karen Flores (Rene Russo). Chili ends up insinuating himself in Hollywood and becoming a major player - but not without a few bumps along the way, most of them provided by local thug Bo Catlett (Delroy Lindo) and an old Miami rival, Ray Barboni (the ever-terrific Dennis Farina).
While the entire cast gives pretty good performances (including Danny Devito as a self-obsessed movie star, Martin Weir), the movie really rests on Travolta's shoulders. While I don't consider Travolta one of the great actors of our time, I do feel when he is particularly suited for a role, he shines. Chili was tailor-made for him and he seems so comfortable in the role he makes it look effortless. Only Farina's dopey, almost parodic mobster comes close to stealing any thunder away from Travolta, but the big man is so at home at the center of this film that he's just a joy to watch.
Shorty has quite a few really good laughs in it as well, from Chili's manhandling of the local muscle to his one liners to a great scene where the weak-willed Zimm tries to act tough over the phone. Farina is always a source of merriment and Leonard's patented brand of cynical ironic humor shines through here far better than it came across in the book.
Get Shorty is worth a look again, not only because they've released a mondo edition with extras (not the version I saw), but because a sequel, Be Cool, is due out soon, and if it's even half as good as this movie was, it should be worth your $7.50 at the metroplex.