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movie review - Get Shorty

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Toronto, 1998.01.08

This flick suffered from "I read the book" syndrome in that I spent some time debating with myself on their choices for actors, etc (overall - good). It was a good adaptation, but it seems the directors/writers couldn't resist throwing in the 90s Latino gangster element, for no obvious reason. Also, they changed the whole ending to include the actual filming of the supposed "Get Shorty", which sidelines the whole loony aspect of the book.

Not recommended.

rand()m quote

It has always seemed strange to me...The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling, are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest, are the traits of success. And while men admire the quality of the first they love the produce of the second.

—John Steinbeck, Cannery Row