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movie review - Things to Do in Denver when You're Dead

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 1997.02.14

A very typical American '90s gangster movie. The entire plot is outlined on the back of the tape. It's got Andy Garcia as well as the Christophers Walken and Lloyd, the second of whom has leprosy for some reason, and Treat Williams, who plays his usual psychopath. The deal is that Walken pressures Garcia into taking on a risky and very unpleasant intimidation of Walken's son's rival-in-love. Garcia has to accept, and gathers together the old gang for one more job. You can see the entire plot coming, from William's murder of not only the rival but the contested girl through to the demise of all of the participants. The one half-bright part is the inclusion of Steve Buscemi as an ultra-efficient but meekly mute hitman. This movie can't get a 0 because I sat there like a lump instead of leaving despite my objection.

Not recommended.

rand()m quote

One day you will take a fork in the road, and you're going to have to make a decision about which direction you want to go. If you go one way, you can be somebody. You will have to make compromises and you will have to turn your back on your friends. But you will be a member of the club and you will get promoted and get good assignments. Or you can go the other way and you can do something [...] for yourself. If you decide to do something, you may not get promoted and get good assignments and you certainly will not be a favorite of your superiors. But you won't have to compromise yourself. To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That's when you have to make a decision. To be or to do.

—John Boyd, US Air Force