Get Shorty, written by Scott Frank, based on the novel by Elmore Leonard, 10 out of 10

Get Shorty, written by Scott Frank, based on the novel by Elmore Leonard

10 out of 10

                What an exuberant film!

                Get Shorty is exhilarating, smart, funny and a wonderful entertainment!

                The acting is outstanding!

Indeed, this formidable motion picture could be recommended as therapy for depressed individuals.

Humor is part of the Science of Happiness and the Positive Psychology course at Harvard has a lecture on it.

John Travolta as Chili Palmer reminds the audiences of his classic role in Pulp Fiction, although in a different register.

Vincent Vega is a criminal like Chili Palmer, but the methods used by the two characters are so different.

In fact, Chili Palmer, in spite of his profession, is admirable for the many Character Strengths that he possesses:

Persistence, Creativity- he even thinks of a screenplay- Curiosity, Open-mindedness, Love of Learning and

Perspective, not so much Citizenship though, Mercy in some moments, Self- regulation at others, plus

Bravery, Vitality, Social Intelligence, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence, Gratitude, Hope and Humor

Chili Palmer is a loan shark with a very outré passion for the movies that he goes out to see whenever he has a chance.

He even knows dialogues by heart.

When Orson Wells is facing Charlton Heston and Marlene Dietrich in the classic A Touch of Evil, Palmer has all the lines.

The hero arrives in Hollywood, coming from Miami, to collect the debt of a silly man who had such incredible luck.

While waiting for his airplane in a bar, he can see it destroyed in a cascade of flames and fumes.

This man owed money and he wants to take advantage and pretend he died in that plane accident.

He was after all registered as being on board, only he was off for some time, due to the delay in takeoff.

Chili Palmer tracks him, but this is just a small part of the complex plot that includes the hero thinking of…

A script for film that actually includes this unbelievable narrative of the plane crash, the debt and the rest.

He wants the director Harry Zimm aka the otherworldly, always fantastic Gene Hackman involved, together with his companion Karen Flores aka Rene Russo and Martin Weir alias Danny DeVito.

There are other colorful, funny characters involved, from Bo Catlett to his muscle man Bear, played by the late James Gandolfini.

Another departed artist, the fabulous Dennis Farina has a role similar to the part he had in Snatch.

All these figures create a marvelous mosaic of competing loan sharks, movie actors and directors.

The result is mesmerizing.

Alas, it did not work so well for the sequel… Be Cool.

However, Get Shorty has all the elements of exquisite, intelligent, fresh, creative, even self-deprecating humor.

The Hollywood characters are depicted with friendliness, but there is satire and idiosyncrasies are exposed.

In addition, what a tremendous cast, again:

John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Dennis Farina, James Gandolfini are absolutely sensational!

-          “Hey, Harry! Look at me!”