Get Shorty (Blu-ray) Blu-ray, 1995

A loan shark heads off to LA and is irresistibly drawn to Hollywood life as he tries to produce a film of his story, encountering all the pitfalls of filmmaking in Hollywood. A superb performance from John Travolta is central to one of the best adaptations of an Elmore Leonard story.

Film-mad mobster Chili Palmer (Travolta) goes AWOL from his intended assignment to track down B-Movie producer Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), who has racked up gambling debts all over Las Vegas. Dazzled by the Hollywood lights, Palmer forgets his debt-collecting duties, deciding instead to pitch in with Zimm to produce a new vehicle for movie star Martin Weir (Danny DeVito). Ties to the criminal underworld are not so easily severed however, and the co-producers find themselves harassed by Palmer's Miami boss Ray 'Bones' (Dennis Farina) and the equally formidable gangster Bo Catlett (Delroy Lindo).

As the John Travolta/Uma Thurman sequel to this film, Be Cool, hits cinemas, a welcome chance to look again at Sonnefeld's sophisticated take on Elmore Leonard’s quirk... more >

As the John Travolta/Uma Thurman sequel to this film, Be Cool, hits cinemas, a welcome chance to look again at Sonnefeld's sophisticated take on Elmore Leonard’s quirky novel. The casting is choice (with Gene Hackman and Danny DeVito stealing scenes shamelessly) and this special edition emphasise the qualities of one of the best Leonard adaptations. < less

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