Get Shorty is another one of those 90s films that tried to give Hollywood an edge. At the same time, the Silver Screen jumped from dour romantic novel adaptations to Corner Store Paperbacks. Elmore Leonard had a rough relationship with adaptations to that point. For every success, there were 10 directors that tried to improve upon his work. It very rarely worked out. So, let’s give one of his more popular recent works to a team of comedians and see if they can get dramatic actors to make it work.
Elmore Leonard deserved better, but he didn’t at the same time. What should have been a short story is given the starf*cker level treatment it deserves stretched to feature length. Normally, director Barry Sonnenfeld has an eye for making this kind of world work on film. However, everything feels like it was shot on Robert Altman’s left-over audio equipment on small sets.
This film is for somebody, I just haven’t found that person yet. That’s better than Be Cool which was for no one anywhere. It’s the Star Wars Holiday Special of the Elmore Leonard world.
Get Shorty special features
- Remastered From A NEW 4K Transfer
- Audio Commentary With Director Barry Sonnenfeld
- Look At Me
- Wise Guys + Dolls
- Going Again
- Party Reel
- Page To Screen
- Vignettes
- The Graveyard Scene
- Trailer
