BE COOL
US, 2005, 120 minutes, Colour.
John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, Cedric the Entertainer, Andre Benjamin, Stephen Tyler, Robert Pastorelli, Christina Milian, Harvey Keitel, The Rock, Danny de Vito, James Woods, Seth Green, Aerosmith.
Directed by F. Gary Gray.
After the humour, playing with the gangster genre, the satire on Hollywood and the general tone of clever American wit in Elmore Leonard’s style in 1996’s Get Shorty, everyone had high hopes of the sequel, Be Cool. But, despite all the efforts, it does not quite gel. It is one of those films where the sum is less than many of its parts.
As Chilli Palmer, Florida loan shark turned movie producer, John Travolta created an energetic variation on the anti-hero. Ten years on, Chilli is much more settled, rather unflappable, which means that he gives the impression of being impassive. He is surrounded by all kinds of bad guys which include the New Jersey Mafia, the new Russian mafia, dodgy local record producers and black gangster tycoons. This means you have to be on the ball to follow all the crosses and doublecrosses as well as the double doublecrosses. And the types on screen don’t seem to be worth all that concentration.
Something like Ocean’s 12, everyone on screen seems to be having a great time (and they all appear dancing at the end, including James Wood who was popped in the first reel when there were jokes about sequels and how they work), but they can’t quite make the audience feel as enthusiastic as they do.
The exception is The Rock. As a violent bodyguard who is flamboyantly gay and is longing for an acting audition between hits, he is consistently funny and witty (even doing a ‘monologue’ of the two cheerleaders in Bring It On) – and he gets the final laugh in his film poster with Nicole Kidman.
There are plenty of talented people in the cast: Harvey Keitel, Vince Vaughan (who strains to be a white would-be black gangster), Uma Thurman, Cedric the Entertainer and Andre 3000 (who do have some funny moments), Christina Milian and Danny de Vito. Maybe the look behind the scenes at the Los Angeles music industry is not as interesting or funny as a look at the movie industry – it does not seem to be Elmore Leonard’s world. Some of the dialogue is Leonard and Leonard-like. Any film which has Cedric the Entertainer chide Andre 2000 as he slurps his take-away noodles, ‘does you dining experience have to be so obtrusive?’ couldn’t be all bad.
1. The popularity of Get Shorty? Characters, crime atmosphere, humour? The work of Elmore Leonard?
2. The film as a sequel, parallel storylines, differences? Chilli Palmer later, quieter? In Los Angeles? The music business?
3. The tone of the film, very much ‘in house’, the references, the movie business, music, the cast, the guests and cameos? The audience enjoying the jokes – or not appreciating them?
4. The music industry, cutthroat business, hopes, dreams, types, ignorant criminals, the showy world, the criminal world?
5. The title, American cool – especially Los Angeles, the offices, bars, clubs, theatres and arenas?
6. The musical score and the range of songs?
7. The opening, meeting Tommy Athens, Chilli and Tommy, the LA discussions, James Woods and his energetic style, his pitch, the references to sequels and films? His suddenly being dead?
8. John Travolta as Chilli Palmer, the background from Get Shorty, transition to Los Angeles, his success in the film world? His relationship with Martin Weir, the ads? Meeting him? Chilli and his getting older, changing? The meeting with Tommy Athens, interest in the recording industry? His friendship with Edie? Hearing Linda, interested in managing her? The discussions, the collaboration with Edie? The conflict with Nick? Encounters with Raji, with Elliott? Sin la Salle? The encounter with the Russians, the murder attempts? The dead bodies? The New Jersey Mafia and the death of the hit man? The intrigues, tangles, fights, double crosses, set-ups? His work as a promoter? The relationship with Edie developing? Their dance? The power play and his success?
9. The glimpse of the Russian Mafia, in Los Angeles, types, language, thugs? The background, the violence? Their comeuppance?
10. Sin, his style, care about his daughter? His henchmen? The betrayals? Dabu and his comic style – especially his eating manners? The speech about black culture?
11. Raji, his poses, talking like an African American? Using Elliott? His going too far, killing? His being exposed, protected?
12. Elliott, type, gay, his working for Raji, his room? His audition and his doing the monologue, the two parts from Bring it On? Theats, violence? His ambitions, waiting for the phone call from Chilli, Raji deceiving him? The final poster and his starring with Nicole Kidman?
13. Joe Lupi, the New Jersey connections, the Mafia, his stalking Chilli, his death?
14. Nick, his power, connections, contracts? Violence, using Raji, Raji’s double cross? The pawn ticket and the police? His wanting to promote Linda? Betrayal?
15. Linda, her style, hopes, singing, success? Steve Tyler, the Aerosmith background, his collaboration, support, the concert sequences with Linda?
16. The video production and its style, the director?
17. The cool ending with things resolved and Chilli and Edie applauding Linda?
