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Get Shorty Image

Get Shorty

Release Date:
82
Metascore
 22 reviews
8.7
User Score
 141 ratings

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Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writer: Elmore Leonard Scott Frank
Production: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Movie Details: Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is a Miami loan shark who's sent to Los Angeles to collect on a
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]
Genre(s): Thriller Comedy Crime
MPAA Rating: R
Production: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Runtime: 105 min
Home Release Date: Mar 24, 1997
Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writer: Elmore Leonard Scott Frank
Starring:
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Critic Reviews
(22)
82
Metascore Universal acclaim
20 Positive Ratings 90%
2 Mixed Ratings 9%
0 Negative Ratings 0%
Based on 22 Critic Reviews View All
90
Rolling Stone
Peter Travers
"One of the best movies of the year and by far the most entertaining." ... Read full review
90
Newsweek
David Ansen
"Barry Sonnenfeld's bouncy, immensely likable adaptation." ... Read full review
90
Washington Post
Desson Thomson
"In Get Shorty, director Barry Sonnenfeld's spirited adaptation of the Elmore Leonard novel, Travolta's rebirth accelerates directly into adulthood." ... Read full review
80
The New York Times
Elvis Mitchell
"The author's sardonic voice has been lost in most films based on his fiction, but this one nicely captures that unruffled Leonard authority. And since Get Shorty is about Hollywood, it invites the sneaky self-mockery that gives this film its comic punch. [20 October 1995, p. C1]"
80
Chicago Reader
Jonathan Rosenbaum
"An entertaining comedy-thriller directed with bounce (if not much nuance) by Barry Sonnenfeld." ... Read full review
78
Austin Chronicle
Marjorie Baumgarten
"The film is wickedly hilarious but more in a droll and knowing kind of sense than a har-de-har-har manner." ... Read full review
60
Mr. Showbiz
F. X. Feeney
"A smirky black comedy that, like its John Lurie score, is jazzy, dry, and light on its feet."
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User Reviews
(8)
8.7
User Score Universal acclaim
126 Positive Ratings 89%
8 Mixed Ratings 5%
7 Negative Ratings 4%
Based on 141 Ratings and 8 Reviews View All
9
Impugn
Jan 11, 2020
Get Shorty is hilarious & is one of Travolta's finest movies. The movie hits the nail on the head in its depiction of the hollywood system andGet Shorty is hilarious & is one of Travolta's finest movies. The movie hits the nail on the head in its depiction of the hollywood system and the crime scenes mesh well with the hollywood plot.… Expand
9
Holographic
Jan 23, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When people in West Hollywood first saw the billboard with Danny DeVito dressed up as Napoléon Bonaparte credited with Martin Weir's name, they thought it was a real one, and DeVito might have changed his name. The film crew had to explain to residents it was just a prop in DeVito's latest movie… Expand
9
StevenF
Jul 26, 2013
A busy and bustling cast of top Hollywood stars fill up the screen in Get Shorty, a smart and hilarious gangster show that promotes someA 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.… Expand
8
EpicLadySponge
Apr 7, 2016
Get Shorty reminds me of those days when movies were just plain simple to make. No matter loved or hated, they were so simple. Get Shorty isGet Shorty reminds me of those days when movies were just plain simple to make. No matter loved or hated, they were so simple. Get Shorty is one of those best simple movies ever made.… Expand
7
Spangle
Apr 17, 2016
Overall, Get Shorty is a pretty fun and entertaining crime comedy/thriller. John Travolta turns in a truly cool and calculated performance asOverall, Get Shorty is a pretty fun and entertaining crime comedy/thriller. John Travolta turns in a truly cool and calculated performance as this loan shark turned wannabe Hollywood producer. He really makes this role his own. Additionally, it is well-written and the plot is compelling. I never found it overly funny, but this was not a major problem in and of itself. The main detraction here has to be how truly generic the film is. From beginning to end, it is completely derivative of every film about Hollywood and/or crime that came before. This is obviously not ideal and it leaves you feeling as if you had seen this movie dozens of times before. That said, it is a fun film with very well developed characters, good pacing, and strong writing. Overall, Get Shorty works as both a satire of the crime genre and on its own as a crime film.… Expand
5
Compi24
Dec 5, 2013
Snappy dialogue and spiffy performances aside, Barry Sonnenfeld's adaptation of Elmore Leonard's "Get Shorty" almost buckles under the forceSnappy dialogue and spiffy performances aside, Barry Sonnenfeld's adaptation of Elmore Leonard's "Get Shorty" almost buckles under the force of its own incomprehensible plotting and vapidity.… Expand
2
Kai82
Aug 11, 2014
This was the most awful movie I have seen in years. It is unbelievable for me because there a great actors in this movie and all i canThis was the most awful movie I have seen in years. It is unbelievable for me because there a great actors in this movie and all i can remember is looking on my watch and hoping that the movie will be over as soon as possible. There is not much more to say about it. If you like the actors there are better movies with them out there.… Expand
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