Story of movie Things To Do In Denver When You%27re Dead : This article's lead section does not adequately summarize key points of its contents. (June 2015) |
Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead is a 1995 American neo-noir crime film directed by Gary Fleder from a screenplay written by Scott Rosenberg. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Andy García, Christopher Lloyd, Treat Williams, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Fairuza Balk, and Gabrielle Anwar.
| Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Gary Fleder |
| Produced by | Cary Woods |
| Written by | Scott Rosenberg |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Michael Convertino |
| Cinematography | Elliot Davis |
| Edited by | Richard Marks |
Production company | Woods Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
Release date |
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Running time | 115 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $8 million |
| Box office | $529,677 |
The film's title comes from a Warren Zevon song of the same name, recorded on his 1991 album Mr. Bad Example, which he allowed under the condition that the song be played during the end credits. The lead character's name, "Jimmy the Saint," comes from the Bruce Springsteen song "Lost in the Flood" from the album Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. It is referred to by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum as one of several of Pulp Fiction's clones. The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.
Screenplay
Trying to go straight, ex-gangster Jimmy "The Saint" Tosnia runs Afterlife Advice in Denver, where dying people videotape messages for their loved ones. His business isn't doing well and his former boss, a local crime lord known as "The Man With The Plan," has bought up his debt in order to command a favor involving the crime lord's son, Bernard, who has been arrested for child molestation. The Man With The Plan, who was left a quadriplegic after an attempt on his life, wants Jimmy to persuade Bernard's ex-girlfriend Meg to come back to him; The Man With the Plan believes this will cure Bernard of his pedophilia.
A reluctant Jimmy recruits his friends Easy Wind, Pieces, Big Bear Franchise and the rage-prone Critical Bill. The plan is to have Pieces and Critical Bill pose as police officers, intercept Meg's current boyfriend, Bruce, and intimidate him until he agrees to break up with Meg. Things go wrong when Bruce grows suspicious of the two men's identities and mocks them, whereupon Critical Bill stabs Bruce in the throat. The commotion wakes up Meg, sleeping in the back of Bruce's van. Meg's appearance startles Pieces, who accidentally shoots her dead. The Man With The Plan is furious at the outcome of their botched mission. He informs Jimmy that he will allow him to live, as long as he leaves Denver, but his crew have been sentenced to "buckwheats" – to be assassinated in a gruesome and painful manner.
Jimmy's friends come to terms with their impending deaths as they are stalked by a hit man, Mr. Shhh, who never fails. Pieces accepts his fate, with Mr. Shhh providing a quick death. Easy Wind goes into hiding with a gang lord called Baby Sinister, but is given up after Mr. Shhh infiltrates and kills most of Sinister's entourage. Because Franchise has a family to raise, Jimmy pleads with The Man With The Plan to spare his life. The Man With The Plan agrees to do so, then betrays Jimmy, having Franchise killed while attempting to flee with his family. The betrayal makes Jimmy vengeful; in turn, Jimmy is also sentenced to buckwheats.
Mr. Shhh finally locates Critical Bill holed up in his apartment, but is ambushed by Bill and the two end up killing each other. In the wake of Mr. Shhh's death, the contract on Jimmy falls to a trio of Mexican brothers. In his final hours, Jimmy says goodbye to a young woman he had fallen in love with, Dagney. Knowing that he will most likely be killed, Jimmy murders Bernard for all the misery he indirectly brought upon the group. He also impregnates Lucinda, a prostitute, in order to fulfill her wish of becoming a mother. As he narrates an Afterlife Advice video, Jimmy gives advice to his unborn child. The trio of killers catch up to Jimmy and he takes his death with grace. The Man With The Plan, broken by his son's death, never commits another criminal act and will now die bitter and alone. Jimmy and his friends are then seen together having drinks in the afterlife.
- Andy Garcia as Jimmy "The Saint" Tosnia
- Christopher Lloyd as "Pieces" Olden
- William Forsythe as Francis "Big Bear Franchise" Chiser
- Bill Nunn as Earl "Easy Wind" Denton
- Treat Williams as "Critical" Bill Dolittle
- Jack Warden as Joe Heff
- Steve Buscemi as Mr. Shhh
- Fairuza Balk as Lucinda
- Gabrielle Anwar as Dagney
- Christopher Walken as The Man With The Plan
- Michael Nicolosi as Bernard
- Bill Cobbs as Malt
- Marshall Bell as Lt. Atwater
- Glenn Plummer as Baby Sinister
- Don Stark as Gus
- Willie Garson as Cuffy
- Jenny McCarthy as Blonde Nurse
- Buddy Guy as House Band
- Josh Charles as Bruce (uncredited)
- Sarah Trigger as Meg
- Don Cheadle as Rooster
- Tiny Lister as House
- Wiley Harker as Boris Carlotti
- Bill Bolender as Stevie's Dad
- Bill Erwin as 70-Year-Old Man
The film was met with negative reviews from critics, holding a 33% on Rotten Tomatoes from a sample of 27 reviews, but a 72% audience approval rating.
Produced on a budget of $8 million, the film made only about $530,000 upon its limited release.
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