Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)

Five different criminals face imminent death after botching a job quite badly.

Director:

Gary Fleder

Writer:

Scott Rosenberg

Stars:

Andy Garcia, Christopher Lloyd, William Forsythe

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andy Garcia	...	Jimmy 'The Saint' Tosnia
Christopher Lloyd	...	Pieces
William Forsythe	...	Franchise
Bill Nunn	...	Easy Wind
Treat Williams	...	Critical Bill
Jack Warden	...	Joe Heff
Steve Buscemi	...	Mister Shhh
Fairuza Balk	...	Lucinda
Gabrielle Anwar	...	Dagney
Christopher Walken	...	The Man with the Plan
Michael Nicolosi	...	Bernard
Bill Cobbs	...	Malt
Marshall Bell	...	Lt. Atwater
Glenn Plummer	...	Baby Sinister
Don Stark	...	Gus

Storyline

Jimmy the Saint's business is videotaping the terminally-ill, so that they will be around to give 'Afterlife Advice' to their survivors. He hasn't been doing too well lately and has had to turn to loan-sharks to accomodate his failing business, as well as his expensive personal tastes. When an evil gangster-overlord buys up his note and demands a favor of Jimmy, in exchange for the interest that he can't afford, Jimmy capitulates. Jimmy is to scare someone for the gangster-overlord--really rough them up. Without giving too much away (spoiler), the scene goes down badly and Jimmy and his crew all end up with contracts on their heads for their trouble.

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Plot Keywords:

death | pedophile | shot in the forehead | beating | racial slur | 

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Taglines:

Protect. Love. Honor. Avenge.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong graphic violence and language, and for brief images of a sex film

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Leben nach dem Tod in Denver

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

ITL 126,606,000 (Italy) (4 April 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Woods Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer Scott Rosenberg created the distinctive slang-based vocabulary used by the characters in the film by mixing Vietnam slang and biker slang, and adding in some of his own original diction.

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Goofs

When Pieces meets Jimmy at the amusement park, he arrives and approaches bareheaded. When they part, he has a hat.

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Quotes

Joe Heff: Jimmy the Saint Tosnia. He went to seminary school but lost the calling. But in his day... the bitches' bastard!

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Connections

References D.O.A. (1950)

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Soundtracks

"Freaky Guitar Freylekhs"
Performed by Frank London
Written by Frank London
Courtesy of Knitting Factory Works

User Reviews

flawed but inspired

Next to Garcia's work in INTERNAL AFFAIRS, this is really one of his best performances... It's a rich film on every level, and it's too bad the film was caught -- back in 1995 -- in the backlash of Tarantino madness. Scott Rosenberg has a unique voice as a writer, and this film attempts to create its own reality. All those who say they 'hate' this film should rent their copy of HAPPY GILMORE and keep their opinions to themselves. Needless to say, this is a film that provokes and p***es people off and one which should be viewed without conventional expectations...