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Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead [1996]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

After a foolproof scam turns sour, Jimmy the Saint (a soulful but miscast Andy Garcia, who mainly acts with his hair) and his hard-bitten crew must put their various sordid affairs in order before facing their final bloody curtain call. It's not nearly as clever as it thinks it is, but Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead is a terminally wise-ass (and extremely violent) caper flick, and is still one of the better post-Tarantino crime opuses, with some sharp dialogue, a scenery-chewing Christopher Walken (as a paraplegic archcriminal) and unhinged performances by Treat Williams and the obsequious Steve Buscemi that must be seen to be (dis)believed. Neophyte scripter Scott Rosenberg would later pen hipper-than-thou scripts for Beautiful Girls, Con Air and Armageddon, while director Gary Fleder moved on to the somewhat more reputable Kiss the Girls. The tongue-twisting title is from a Warren Zevon song. --Andrew Wright


Give it name? - A grindingly mediocre film
Review date: 2008-11-08 Rating: 2 out of 10

I can't believe this fim has so many positive reviews, I tried to sit through it last night and gave up after an hour.

If you're expecting someting in the Reservoir Dogs mould you'll be sorely dissapointed, beacuse the film is just dire. And as for the use of language, when you can actually understand what they're saying it's just annoying.

Jimmy the Saint's love story is also a completely unecessary addition to the film, and only adds to its cheesiness.

Give It A Miss....

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Reviews


great film, deserves wider audience
Review date: 2008-11-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

a lesser known but almost perfect gangster (kind of) film that deserves wider audience and aknowlegement.. a film of small budget but with a big heart. Andy Garcia, perfectly cast, (one of the most under rated actors of recent times in my opinion), providing his usual edge and a Christopher Walken stealing the show with a fearsome perfomance, proving that deerhunter, many yrs ago was not a one off..
Perfect acting all around, many interesting characters, sharp witty dialogue, cool catchphrases and niknames, suspense and true emotion give unexpected depth to this little story mixing romance, friendship, revenge and honour..
And ok , the basis of it that a mature tough crew of mafia have beens are given such a simple task and manage to f.k it up, might be somewhat faltered, but the story develops so well that u totally forget about it.. a little diamond of a film that can be watched and enjoyed equally from both men and women (and how often can u say that for a gangster movie!).
"boat drinks" guys....

Girls who glide need films that make them thump
Review date: 2008-02-01 Rating: 10 out of 10

or something like that...This film has great dialogue, great soundtrack, cast and a bittersweet plot. Andy Garcia is NOT miscast! I am always amazed more people haven't heard of this film, perhaps something to do with its uncatchy title? Very glad it's on DVD!

"I am Godzilla, and you are Japan!"
Review date: 2007-10-31 Rating: 8 out of 10

This film starts with a swanky looking Jimmy `The Saint' (Andy Garcia) driving in a nice car and getting the heads up from onlookers. At this point you think this is going to be a regular gangster film, and then we find out that he has a company that sells a unique service. Terminally ill patients pay him to video them giving advise, this advise is then held until friends/family members decide they'd like to seek the advice of a sagely yet dead relative. The company isn't doing too well, loan sharks are after him. So when a wheelchair-bound old mob leader `The Man With The Plan' asks him to do one last job for money he can't refuse, he reluctantly accepts.

`The Man With The Plan' has a son who recently embarrassed himself by going to school and trying to assault a young girl, his father is convinced that if he could only get his son's ex to have him back - he'll get back on the right tracks.

Jimmy is asked to get a gang together to scare away the new boyfriend of TMWTP's sons ex in the hope she'll come running back to the man she used to love. The plan is as fool-proof as things get. A roughing up, a warning, job done...

...But things to terribly wrong, the plan ends up a disaster.

Jimmy is told by TMWTP that his gang have Buckwheat contracts on their heads - they are to die a painful death. Jimmy has 48 hours to leave the country.

The film comes into its own now - Jimmy is fond of the crew he did the job with. Most of them are quite decent, and all of them washed out. He is a moral man and aims to track them all down before the contract killer and give them money and a flight away from a nasty end. Whilst involved with this, he also has to deal with a friend who is in trouble (Lucinda), and falling in love with a beautiful woman he meets in a club.

Garcia seems wooden initially, but his character loses his composure under pressure, letting us see some desperate but good acting. This film is full of unhappy endings and lose:lose situations, but the warmth between the gang members comes through strong. Particularly with Christopher Lloyd who convincingly portrays someone who is tired of running. He brings dignity to a role which requires it. Treat Williams plays `Critical Bill' a lunatic who finds that punching corpses is a good way to vent his anger. Although he is an absolute nutter, his explanation of why he isn't a "faecal freak" had me in stitches.

The character I felt the most for was Franchise, played by William Forsythe. As a father and a husband leading a humble life in a trailer park, I was desperate for him to escape the `Buckwheat'. This for me was the main `thriller' aspect of the film because of my emotional involvement, even though it got little screentime.

Christopher Walken gave a fantastic performance as The Man With The Plan, he wasn't a stereotypical gangster boss. There was no honour in his word, he was physically feeble and not particularly articulate.

I rate this film as 3.5 stars, but as the Amazon review system doesn't accommodate this - I'll tip it to 4 stars. Seeing all areas of Jimmy's life, from gentleman lover, to protective friend, to desperate revenger makes for compelling viewing. And although the film seems to show no character finding happiness (except Lucinda) - the final scene leaves the film ending on a high.


Top Ensemble Acting, Slightly Let Down by 'Love Interest'
Review date: 2007-04-16 Rating: 8 out of 10

'Things To Do' is Big 'Small' Film, if you see what I mean. It boasts a tremendous cast, with Christopher Walken excellent as the wheelchair-bound hoodlum boss. It also contains some great catchphrases: "Give It A Name'. 'Boat Drinks', etc, an makes the best of some weaker actors, such as Treat Williams, who is excellent as the psycho case who derails Garcia and co's gravy train. Also brilliant is the underrated Fairuza Balk, who plays a drug-addled young hooker, trying to straighten out her life. The film also has some great set-pieces, only marred by the 'love interest' involving Garcia, which to me interrupts the flow of what is a hugely entertaining, and even poignant film. Well worth a look - or two.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Andy Garcia
William Forsythe
Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Walken
Bill Nunn

Creators:
Andy Garcia (Primary Contributor)
Christopher Walken (Primary Contributor)
Bob Weinstein (Producer)
Cary Woods (Producer)
Cathy Konrad (Producer)
Harvey Weinstein (Producer)
Marie Cantin (Producer)
Scott Rosenberg (Producer)
Scott Rosenberg (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Touchstone Home Video
Manufacturer: Touchstone Home Video
EAN: 5017188884044
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2002-01-07
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 111 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1995-12-01
Language: English (Original Language)

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