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 Walken, Christopher Lloyd

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

death | finger gun | wheelchair | what happened to epilogue | video message | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama

---

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:

Asuntos pendientes antes de morir

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$529,766

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Woods Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film title is taken from a Warren Zevon song of the same name, from his 1991 release "Mr. Bad Example".

---

Goofs

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

The Man With The Plan: Look at you. You got a lady?
Jimmy 'The Saint' Tosnia: No.
The Man With The Plan: That's 'cause you're hangin' out with the virus breeders, Jimmy: VB's. You in that yet? Bitin' the pillow?
Jimmy 'The Saint' Tosnia: No.
The Man With The Plan: You will. It's a liberal thing. One day you're saving the rainforest, the next, you're chuggin' cock. Am I wrong?

---

Connections

Referenced in The Zack Files: Things to Do at Horace Hyde White When You're Dead (2002)

---

Soundtracks

In The Sweet Bye & Bye
Performed by Bob Angeliamo Quartett
Courtesy of Collectables Records

User Reviews

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.