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

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Gary Fleder

Writer (WGA):

Scott Rosenberg (written by)

Release Date:

1 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

They can die quickly. They can die slowly. But they must die!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Death | City Name In Title | Corpse | Tattoo | Sex In Car

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

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
Harris Laskaway	...	Ellie (as Harris Laskawy)
Willie Garson	...	Cuffy (as William Garson)
David Stratton	...	Alex
Deborah Strang	...	Dodie
Sarah Trigger	...	Meg
Jenny McCarthy	...	Blonde Nurse
Buddy Guy	...	House Band
Ray Allison	...	House Band
Scott Holt	...	House Band
Greg Rzab	...	House Band
Wiley Harker	...	Boris Carlotti
Joe Drago	...	Maitre D'
Chuck Bacino	...	Accordion Player
Don Cheadle	...	Rooster
Tommy 'Tiny' Lister	...	House (as Tiny Lister Jr.)
Bill Long	...	'The Bad Beat' Man
Cheree Jaeb	...	10-Year-Old Girl
Sarah Levy Arbess	...	Girl #1
Larissa Michieli	...	Girl #2
Larry Raben	...	Young Man
Lynn Applebaum	...	Young Woman (as Lynn Appelbaum)
Taylor Hayle	...	Stevie
Archie Smith	...	Mr. Jergen
Harriet Medin	...	Old Woman
Bill Bolender	...	Stevie's Dad
Susan Merson	...	Woman with Cancer
Bill Erwin	...	70-Year-Old Man
Nate Ingram	...	Alley Hood
Jacob Bergener	...	Alley Hood
Larry Curry Jr.	...	Black Youth
Ruthay	...	Receptionist
Selina Mathews	...	Cynthia
Phil Boardman	...	Gym Teacher
William Denis	...	Businessman
Danny Romo	...	Montirez Brother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve Abbott	...	Alex's Friend (uncredited)
Josh Charles	...	Bruce (uncredited)

Directed by
Gary Fleder

Writing credits (WGA)
Scott Rosenberg		(written by)

Produced by
Marie Cantin	....	executive producer
Cathy Konrad	....	co-producer
Scott Rosenberg	....	associate producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer
Cary Woods	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Convertino

Cinematography by
Elliot Davis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Richard Marks

Casting by
Ronnie Yeskel

Production Design by
Nelson Coates

Art Direction by
Burton Rencher

Set Decoration by
Anne D. McCulley

Costume Design by
Abigail Murray

Makeup Department
Steve Artmont	....	key makeup artist
Todd Masters	....	special prosthetic makeup effects
Violet Ortiz	....	hair stylist
K.G. Ramsey	....	hair styles supervisor
Danny Romo	....	tattoo artist
Rick Sharp	....	makeup supervisor
Michael Spatola	....	prosthetic makeup artist

Production Management
Marie Cantin	....	unit production manager
Jeffrey Downer	....	production supervisor: Los Angeles
Jeff Gourson	....	post-production supervisor (as Jeff S. Gourson)
Laura Greenlee	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marcei A. Brown	....	second assistant director (as Marcei Brubaker)
Josh King	....	first assistant director
Donald Sparks	....	second assistant director: Los Angeles (as Donald L. Sparks)
Denise Strong	....	second second assistant director (as Denise Denver)
Diana E. Williams	....	second second assistant director (as Diana Williams)
Michael Zimbrich	....	first assistant director: Los Angeles

Art Department
Mark B. Ashby	....	construction coordinator
Kordon Baker	....	swing gang: Denver
Brian Bird	....	art department coordinator
Ed Bowen	....	carpenter (as Lee Roy 'Ed' Bower)
Michael Budge	....	set dresser: Denver
James Ward Byrkit	....	storyboard artist
Thomas Cooper	....	carpenter
Jamie A. Curl	....	buyer: Denver
Michael T. Daigle	....	lead scenic (as Michael Daigle)
César Díez Álava	....	assistant property master (as Cesar Diez Alava)
Kristi Dinner	....	buyer: Denver (as Kristin Dinner)
Lanny Durbin	....	carpenter: Denver
Steven Fidler	....	construction foreman: Denver (as Steven W. Fidler)
Monte French	....	property assistant
Batia Grafka	....	property master
Tanya Elaine Hamilton	....	scenic painter: Denver
Raymond E. Higgins	....	scenic painter: Denver
Sean Hillyard	....	scenic painter: Denver
Kirk Lane Hockinson	....	swing gang: Denver
Kevin H. Holland	....	carpenter: Denver
Randy Holland	....	foreman (as Randy J. Holland)
Ty R. Holland	....	carpenter: Denver
Steven Curtis Husch	....	lead man (as Steve Husch)
Kenneth H. Jones	....	lead man: Denver
Morris Laslo	....	carpenter
Larry Lee	....	carpenter: Denver
Loren Lyons	....	set dresser (as Loren P. Lyons)
Scott MacLachlan	....	carpenter (as Scott 'Huevos' MacLachlan)
Brett A. McCormick	....	carpenter: Denver
Kurt Meisenbach	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Garry Moore	....	carpenter: Denver
Ricky L. Morning	....	carpenter
Daniel Naiman	....	draftsman
Anthony N. Naples	....	carpenter: Denver
John Perry	....	swing gang: Denver
Kristie Pfeffinger	....	scenic painter
Steven Piacenza	....	swing gang
John Pouncey	....	carpenter: Denver (as John M. Pouncey)
Paul T. Rawley	....	swing gang: Denver
Chance Robertson	....	swing gang
Gregg 'Cowboy' Sanders	....	gang boss
Marc Sapienza	....	carpenter: Denver
Ernest R. Savage III	....	art department assistant: Denver
Tracee Shuler	....	set dresser: Los Angeles
Jimmy Simeone	....	foreman
Richard A. Sloan	....	swing gang: Denver
Carter Smith	....	art department assistant: Denver (as Carter J. Smith)
D. Latrice Soares	....	art department assistant
Victoria Stasica	....	buyer: Denver
Michael Stone	....	lead man: Los Angeles (as Michael C. Stone)
Brett Tuttle	....	carpenter: Denver
Jeff Wallace	....	gang boss
Larry J. White II	....	construction foreman (as Larrs White)
Rene K. Widener	....	carpenter: Denver
Ryan Wilson	....	swing gang: Denver
Douglas Womack	....	construction coordinator: Los Angeles (as Douglas A. Womack)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Balestier	....	sound transfer (as Bruce Balestir)
Bob Baron	....	adr mixer
David Bartlett	....	supervising sound editor
Denise Bell	....	sound recordist
Moe Chamberlain	....	boom operator
Mike Chock	....	sound editor
James Christopher	....	sound editor
Mark Coffey	....	sound transferer
Andy D'Addario	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom E. Dahl	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Tom Dahl)
Mary Jo Devenney	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
David Diamond	....	second boom operator
Ezra Dweck	....	foley mixer
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
Walter Charles Gorey	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
Warren Hamilton Jr.	....	sound editor
Tomas Hart	....	sound programmer
John Hulsman	....	foley editor
Donlee Jorgensen	....	foley editor (as Don Lee Jorgensen)
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Rocky Quiroz	....	second boom operator
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Chris Sparkes	....	sound recordist
Ralph Stuart	....	assistant sound editor
Jim Stuebe	....	production sound mixer (as Jim Steube)
Renee Tondelli	....	adr supervisor
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound editor
Mike Lanoue	....	24-frame video sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Brian Cox	....	special effects assistant: Denver
Tim Drnec	....	special effects supervisor: Denver
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects: Los Angeles (as John Hartigan)
Robert Olson	....	special effects technician: Denver
Scott Thompson	....	special effects foreman: Denver
David Waine	....	special effects: Los Angeles
Joey Wartnerchaney	....	special effects technician: Denver (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
John Branagan	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Cottrell	....	stunts
Monty Cox	....	stunts
Oscar Dillon	....	stunts
Ousaun Elam	....	stunts
Richard Epper	....	stunts
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunts (as Jon Epstein)
Dane Farwell	....	stunts
Glory Fioramonti	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (as Tom Huff)
Keii Johnston	....	stunts
Melvin Jones	....	stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts (as Henry Kinji)
Rusty McClennon	....	stunts
Dwayne McGee	....	stunts
Bennie Moore	....	stunts (as Benny Moore)
Brad Orrison	....	stunts
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunt coordinator: Los Angeles (as Charles Picerni Jr.)
Dennis Scott	....	stunts
Robert Sims	....	stunts
Erik Stabenau	....	stunts (as Eric Stabenau)
Bobby Stuart	....	stunts
Big Daddy Wayne	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Philip N. Berardi	....	rigging gaffer (as Philip Berardi)
Dave Burns	....	grip
Lisa Campbell	....	unit supervisor: "b" camera, Denver
Pierre Cane	....	electrician (as 'Pierre' Cane)
Robert Cheung	....	electrician (as Rob Cheung)
Tim Collins	....	dolly grip (as Timothy Collins)
Thomas Crawford	....	best boy grip
Ric Delgado	....	best boy electric
Robert Dowling	....	electrician
Steven Frohardt	....	rigging grip: Denver
Christopher Gerding	....	rigging gaffer: Denver
Cranston Gobbo	....	dolly grip: Los Angeles
Cranston Gobbo	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Adam Jones	....	gaffer: Los Angeles
Rory Robert Knepp	....	camera operator: second unit
Weston Lant	....	best boy grip: Los Angeles
Timberlake Lewis	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles
Chris Lombardi	....	first assistant camera (as Cris Lombardi)
Richard Mall	....	key grip
David McMillan	....	electrician (as Dave McMillan)
Jon McNulty	....	electrician: Denver
Ray Milazzo	....	camera loader (as Ray Milazzo Jr.)
Peter M. Nelson	....	camera intern: Denver
John Nuler	....	Steadicam operator
Dino Parks	....	gaffer
Dane Peterson	....	electrician: Denver
Atalanta Powell	....	camera loader: Los Angeles
Anthony B. Richmond	....	additional photographer: Los Angeles (as Tony Richmond)
Dan Riffel	....	electrician: Denver
Aaron Schneider	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Aaron Schneider	....	director of photography: "b" camera, Denver
Robert Seaman	....	camera operator: "b" camera, Denver (as Bob Seaman)
Skyler Tegland	....	grip
Renee Treyball	....	second assistant camera
David J. White II	....	first assistant camera: Los Angeles
Buddy Wilson	....	best boy electric: Los Angeles
Kimberly Wright	....	still photographer
Willie E. Dawkins	....	electrician (uncredited)
Kelly Diehl	....	remote head technician (uncredited)
Kent Harvey	....	additional assistant camera: second unit (uncredited)
Billy Holdson	....	camera loader: Denver (uncredited)
Darren Michaels	....	additional still photographer (uncredited)
Steve Van Ness	....	electrician (uncredited)
James WilderHancock	....	grip: Los Angeles (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nina Axelrod	....	casting: Colorado (as Nina Kether Axelrod)
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Richard Hicks	....	casting assistant
Rick Montgomery	....	additional casting
Dan Parada	....	additional casting
Dixie Webster	....	extras casting: Los Angeles (as Dixie Webster Davis)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Giorgio Armani	....	selected wardrobe: Mr. Garcia
Nancy Bassett	....	costumer
Scott Tomlinson	....	costumer (as Scott Bar Tomlinson)
Jennifer Day Young	....	set costumer
Valerie Zielonka	....	costume supervisor (as Valerie Lynn Zielonka)

Editorial Department
Heidi Arnold	....	post-production coordinator
Desmond Cannon	....	post-production coordinator
Tracy Curtis	....	first assistant editor
Erik Digney	....	avid technician
Jeffrey Ford	....	apprentice editor
Éva Gárdos	....	additional editor (as Eva Gardos)
Lori C. Ingle	....	first assistant editor
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Mary Nelson-Duerrstein	....	negative cutter
Tia Nolan	....	second assistant editor
Gregory Plotkin	....	second assistant editor
Sarah Thiessen	....	post-production assistant
Ken Woodburn	....	post-production assistant
Eric Rigney	....	editor: avid (uncredited)

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor
Michael Convertino	....	music producer
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra manager (as Sandy De Crescent)
Jim Harrison	....	music editor
Artie Kane	....	conductor (as Artie Cane)
Jo Ann Kane	....	music librarian (as Joann Cane)
Pilar McCurry	....	additional music supervisor
Shawn Murphy	....	music recordist
Bobby Muzingo	....	orchestrator (as Bob Muzingo)
John Neufeld	....	orchestrator (as John Neufelt)
Conrad Pope	....	orchestrator
Jeanette Surga	....	assistant music editor
Happy Walters	....	additional music supervisor
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor (as Ken Wannberg)
Elizabeth Wendel	....	associate music supervisor
Neville Brothers	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Steve A. Barash	....	picture car coordinator: Denver
Greg Bauer	....	driver
Jason Belsky	....	transportation coordinator
Phil Caputo	....	driver
Robert E. Dingle	....	driver
Joe Dugan	....	driver (as Joseph L. Dugan)
Morgan Jones	....	transportation captain
Matt Kessler	....	driver (as Matthew J. Kessler)
Paul Kowalczyk	....	driver
Anna Maxwell	....	driver: Denver
Robert Menapace	....	transportation captain: Denver
Tony 'Bear' Mihalopoulos	....	driver
Skip Steffens	....	driver
Dave Walden Jr.	....	driver: Denver (as David Walden Jr.)
Gene Ward	....	driver: Denver
Anthony Wolverton	....	driver

Other crew
Nellie Adami	....	key set production assistant
Nellie Adams	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Allen	....	assistant: Cary Woods
Karen Beard	....	assistant location manager: Denver
Sharon Begley	....	medic: Denver
Bryan Booth	....	production assistant: Denver
Craig Borden	....	production assistant
Kelli L. Bright	....	production assistant: Denver (as Kelli Bright)
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach: Gabrielle Anwar
Gregg M. Busch	....	payroll clerk
Rebecca C. Crespi	....	production assistant (as Rebecca Crespi)
William Doyle	....	location manager: Los Angeles (as Bill Doyle)
Joe Drago	....	assistant: Andy Garcia
Rose F. Fahey	....	assistant: Andy Garcia
Allison Fell	....	office intern: Denver
Lorin Flemming	....	chef
Ira Friedlander	....	production accountant: Los Angeles
Kathy Gerwig-Fisher	....	assistant caterer: Denver
Jim Gerwig	....	caterer: Denver
Rosie Goodman	....	medical coordinator: Denver
Bonnie Grossblatt	....	assistant production coordinator
Carolyn Hagan	....	production coordinator (as Carolyn R. Hagan)
Kent Hamilton	....	insurance
Don Harris	....	police coordinator: Denver
Kim Jacobsen	....	travel services
Kevin R. Kansy	....	payroll clerk
Dana Kroeger	....	production assistant (as Dana S. Kroeger)
Reg Krueger	....	craft service
Melanie Lambert	....	production assistant: Denver
Cheryl Lincoln	....	medic: Denver
James Linville	....	assistant production accountant (as James T. Linville)
Scott Allen Logan	....	key location manager
Patty Long	....	production assistant: Denver
Elizabeth Ludwick-Bax	....	script supervisor (as Elizabeth Ludwick)
Kelly MacManus	....	assistant: Cary Woods
Ivan Martin del Campo	....	production assistant (as Ivan Martin Del Campo)
Dave Matherly	....	effects assistant: Todd Masters Company
Eileen McGuire	....	production accountant
Larissa Michieli	....	production assistant: Denver
Mo Milligan	....	assistant: Marie Cantin
Gina Mingacci	....	assistant: Cathy Konrad
Don Mink	....	post-production accountant
Sandra Ohlfest	....	medic
Josh Patton	....	effects assistant: Todd Masters Company
Scott Patton	....	effects assistant: Todd Masters Company
Jennifer L. Platt	....	production assistant: Denver
Stephanie Poole	....	production assistant
Charlotte Purein	....	assistant location manager
Billy Rose	....	legal services
Nancy Rosing	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Deborah Ross	....	title designer
Jim Rossow	....	production assistant (as Jim Rossow Jr.)
Rebeca Scott	....	project coordinator
Erin Simon	....	assistant: Gary Fleder
Karen L. Sirota	....	assistant production coordinator
Doug Smith	....	medic: Denver
Susan Trembly	....	unit publicist
Jolie Von Suhr	....	production assistant
Leon Watkins	....	production assistant: Denver
Ann Wiggins	....	post-production accountant
Kurt Woolner	....	completion bond
Nellie Adami	....	assistant: Gary Fleder (uncredited)
Denise Blasor	....	voice replacement artist (uncredited)
Sam M. Cobb	....	production medic (uncredited)
April Fitzsimmons	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lizzie Schwartz	....	assistant: Mr. Woods (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Miramax Films
• Woods Entertainment

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Vértigo Films (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• VCL Communications (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Todd Masters Company (special prosthetic make-up effects)
• Ultimate Effects

Other Companies

• Alexander, Halloran, Nau & Rose  legal services
• Buena Vista Imaging  titles and opticals
• Buena Vista Sound  sound re-recording
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Cinelease  additional equipment
• Deborah Ross Film Design  titles
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Film Finance  completion bond
• Giorgio Armani  clothes: Andy Garcia
• Gourmet Alternative  additional catering
• Inter Video  24 frame video playback
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Looks/McFarland  extras casting: denver
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  legal research
• Motion Picture Marine  marine coordination
• Motion Picture Marine  yachts provided by
• Paskal Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Prep Shoot Post  post-production accounting
• Production Express  shipping services coordination
• Proud Chefs Catering  catering
• SPS Digital Picture Editorial  avid film composer supplier
• Sony Pictures Studios  score recording
• Sound World  foley recorded at
• Suzy Vaughan & Associates  talent clearance
• The New Act Travel  travel services
• Truman Van Dyke Company  insurance
• Webster Kolich & Co.  extras casting: Los Angeles (as webster kolich & company casting)
• Weddington Productions  sound editing

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | France:-16 | UK:18 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

The character name "Jimmy the Saint" is taken from the 1973 song "Lost in the Flood" by Bruce Springsteen.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jimmy The Saint is threatening Lt. Atwater with a baseball bat he's holding it against Atwater's chest and lowers the bat to the ground to lean on it, but in the next shot the bat is back against Lt. Atwater's chest.

Quotes:

70 Year Old Man: Life is like a mustard burp, momentarily tangy and then forgotten in the air

Movie Connections:

References D.O.A. (1950)

Soundtrack:

Pistolgrip-Pump

You might object to it - nethertheless you must like it.

I just wanted to choose one movie out of all the movies I've seen - per chance, I've got something like a list - and vote for it here. I happened to choose "Things to Do in Denver when You're Dead", I read a few comments, voted my 8 out of 10 and then I thought: Well, I guess I could easily write an own comment about this one quite quickly. So here is what I feel about it.

Generally, I'm a person who objects decisively to too much violence and obscenity, but still I like so much about this movie. I would have avoided many scenes and sure it is also a bit too pathetic, but it's also melancholic and poetic. Never before "good gangsters" have been as likeable as here - despite all that exaggerated kind of stuff they talk. As I told you, there is this dark poetry in this picture. The jeopardy of life in which the gangsters find themselves, their only hopes and the way they take it. There is also an unhappy love-story in this movie, no special one whereof you'd remember anything great or particularly touching, but it fits into the picture.

Already when you watch the opening scene of the movie - which you might feel quite uncomfortable about - you know that this is a unique and unconventional movie which doesn't like the word *taboo*. Therefore - there IS too much violence and obscenity in it. But also this is - depending on the way you look at it - fascinating: You don't care when someone is shot, but nethertheless you think you DID care for the main characters.

And finally the performances must be mentioned. They are really extremely fine and very charming. First of all Andy Garcia's in the lead. I've seen him in a few other movies before, but I didn't know what a good actor he is. In this movie he is absolutely brilliant, he's so very likeable - and melancholic when still full of joy. Christopher Walken of course is always fine, as is Christopher Lloyd as the leper (if he actually is one, tasteless but very very grotesque and funny!) and it's Treat Williams who stands out. Fairuza Balk also deserves being mentioned. And - it's some time ago that I saw the movie, so I can't actually recall why, but - I remember that I also enjoyed Jack Warden, who had a supporting role, very much.