THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD

US, 1995, 115 minutes, Colour.
Andy Garcia, Christopher Lloyd, William Forsythe, Bill Nunn, Treat Williams, Jack Warden, Steve Buscemi, Fairuza Balk, Gabrielle Anwar, Christopher Walken, Michael Nikolosi, Bill Cobb, Glenn Plummer.
Directed by Gary Fleder.

A natty title which proves frighteningly true. This is a disturbing film, a film about evil people. It uses the conventions of the gangster drama but makes them ugly and real. Andy Garcia runs a video company recording messages of dying people for their family - playing them is one thing in Denver when you're dead. But he is an ex-seminarian, ex-gangster who is beholden to Denver's Mr Big (a most sinister Christopher Walken) and has to round up four petty criminals to do a job of roughing up someone. It goes awry, violently, and the criminals become targets of a ruthless hit man (Steve Buscemi). There are some grim violent sequences and the audience is offered a diverse range of moral points of view which gives the film some intellectual subtlety. Performances are excellent (especially Treat Williams). Jack Warden is a kind of chorus who tells the legends of the Denver gangsters. A picture of evil which, while visceral, makes you think. Evil, power and violence.

1. The title? The song title? Jimmy’s experience in Denver? Alive but dead?

2. Denver, the seedy areas, the gangster world, the bars and streets, the seedy cinemas, the baths, apartments? The musical score?

3. The gangster world, its brutal tone, language, crass, sex and bodily function talk, cruelty, deaths? Lies and untrustworthy words?

4. The focus on Jimmy the Saint, Joe and his telling the story? The listeners in the bar (and later the assassin listening)? Andy Garcia, screen presence, dapper, his suits, his past, the criminal jobs, changing? His relationship with the gangster boss? Summoned by his thugs, the audience, the impositions, the decision, gathering together his crew, a motley group? The job, menacing the boyfriend, the botching of the job? Jimmy knowing that he was dead? His concern about Easy Wind, about Franchise and his family, the hostility of his wife? Earl and his memories, Bill and his eccentricities, the stench in his room? His needing to help Lucinda? The contemplation of having a child for immortality? Joe and his reaction? His decision to do good and to be helpful before he died?

5. The gangster chief, Christopher Walken’s menace, quadriplegic (and the memories of his past and dancing)? His concern about his son, loving his son? His brutal henchmen? The summons to Jimmy, the task, the motivation to rough up the boyfriend, his angers? His brutality towards Jimmy? His crass sex talk? His breaking his word, killing all his enemies?

6. The introduction to the film, Bernard, hanging around the playground, approaching the little girl, being apprehended? His father, concern, his girlfriend, harassing the boyfriend? Bernard meeting Jimmy, Jimmy killing him as revenge for his father’s actions?

7. Earl, his age, experience, sharing his memories? The assassin approaching him, his quick death?

8. Franchise, his friendship with Jimmy, their discussions, Jimmy’s visit to the home, the hostility of the wife? Jimmy’s concern, asking the chief not to kill Franchise? The violence of his death, the reaction of his wife?

9. Bill, living alone, keeping vigil, crass in his behaviour, chatter, the smell of his apartment, his bodily function discussions, the confrontation with the assassin, killing him, being shot by the dying assassin?

10. Easy Wind, his participation in the group, his death?

11. Lucinda, on the streets, young, her personality, her being accosted, the bad eye, Jimmy taking her to the boardroom, assaulting the executive who had assaulted her?

12. Dagney, Jimmy’s attraction, discussions with her, her boyfriend, the relationship? Her sympathy for him? His letting her go?

13. The build-up to Jimmy’s death, with Lucinda, her being pregnant, leaving Denver? Joe and his continuing to tell the tale?

14. The final Paradise sequence, everybody reunited, tropical happiness – in the vein of The Shawshank Redemption?

15. A character study, a crime film, portrait of gangsters? Possibilities of redemption?