X
- 1995
- R
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 45 m
- 1995
- R
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 45 m
Summary Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami loan shark who's sent to Los Angeles to collect on a gambling debt from film producer Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman). Chili soon discovers that loansharking was the perfect training ground for making movies...though you have to be ruthless to make it in Hollywood. [MGM]
Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld
Written By: Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
- 1995
- R
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 45 m
- 1995
- R
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
- 1 h 45 m
Get Shorty
8.2
Where to Watch
Summary Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami loan shark who's sent to Los Angeles to collect on a gambling debt from film producer Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman). Chili soon discovers that loansharking was the perfect training ground for making movies...though you have to be ruthless to make it in Hollywood. [MGM]
Directed By: Barry Sonnenfeld
Written By: Elmore Leonard, Scott Frank
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
81
91% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
9% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 22 Critic Reviews
81
91% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
9% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Director Barry Sonnenfeld captures Hollywood in sunny tones, with fluid camera moves providing maximum comic effect.
In Get Shorty, director Barry Sonnenfeld's spirited adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel, Travolta's rebirth accelerates directly into adulthood.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 163 User Ratings
8.2
85% Positive
138 Ratings
138 Ratings
7% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
8% Negative
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 163 User Ratings
8.2
85% Positive
138 Ratings
138 Ratings
7% Mixed
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
8% Negative
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
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One of the pleasures of Get Shorty is watching the way the plot moves effortlessly from crime to the movies - not a long distance, since both industries are based on fear, greed, creativity and intimidation.
An entertaining comedy-thriller directed with bounce (if not much nuance) by Barry Sonnenfeld.
One of the sharper, funnier, better-cast, better-written movies around right now. But there's something about it that, well, comes up short. [20 October 1995, Friday, p.C]
Get Shorty's assortment of lowlifes and high rollers is a familiar one, but it's still deeply satisfying.
A busy and bustling cast of top Hollywood stars fill up the screen in Get Shorty, a smart and hilarious gangster show that promotes some shrewd moments and larger than life characters, with John Travolta leading the pack as Chili Palmer, a loan shark is goes in and out of various mobsters as he is tasked with receiving payment from a nervous movie producer, Harry (Gene Hackman).
The two immediately form quite the unsteady companionship, and Chili sees first hand how the movie business works, and it isn't that much different from what he does. The film introduces these characters who are given plenty of screen time to develop very versatile and interesting characters. They each develop quite the personality and have often hilarious conversations, particularly Travolta and Hackman, who make quite the unorthodox duo as they attempt to rid themselves of the man on their back looking payment.
Where the film truly succeeds is its sense of knowing, it has fun doing what its doing, and the whole basis of the film within a film plays out very well, which is accompanied by a smart script that uses its surroundings to its advantage, leading us to feel sympathy for the rich and famous with LA as its backdrop.
As you can tell, this is very much a character centric film, with a large cast also including Danny DeVito, Rene Russo, Bette Midler and James Gandolfini to name a few, they each bring something fresh, funny and unique to their roles, while they all also mix it up with Chili.
A carefully crafted script has ensured that Barry Sonnenfeld can direct in a comedic fashion, but also to drive these characters who it sometimes seems do role swaps, we expect certain things from Chili when he is confronted unknowingly, but our expectations are completely turned on their head, we are shown exactly what things are and what words mean, not for reasons to pull the viewer in, but for a sense that in many films of the same genre, nothing is explained, and Get Shorty parodies and pokes fun at that for their trouble.
Certainly one of the finest films of its time, full of humour and interesting characters, but most importantly, the film makes these characters matter.
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Not sure if it's the cheesy music or Travolta himself but I Just couldn't get in to this. It has the makings of a classic but didn't click to me.
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Do you know the case of good or great movies that are universally praised but you dislike them? This is the case for me. I see the quality in everything but it could not win me over. I don't even know why. The story has potential, there are great actors with John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo and Danny DeVito. I cant even find any flaws here. Also the humor and side blows to the movie business are well done. It was nothing for me as all I remember from watching this in cinema was boredom. You don't need to lecture me on my opinion because I already admit that this is a good movie for others as I see the quality here. It is like an exotic food you taste. Some like it and others hate it. Overall a good movie but not for me. Might sound crazy but I will give a recommendation for watching it.
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Production Company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM),
Jersey Films
Release Date Oct 25, 1995
Duration 1 h 45 m
Rating R
Tagline Drug smuggling. Racketeering. Loan sharking. Welcome to Hollywood!
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
American Comedy Awards, USA
• 3 Wins & 4 Nominations
Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
