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.

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Plot Keywords:

debt | contract killer | one last job | gangster | redemption | 

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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:

Asuntos pendientes antes de morir

Filming Locations:

Denver, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$44,108, 3 December 1995

Gross USA:

$529,766

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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

Scott Rosenberg wrote the script in two weeks. It was partly in reaction to the death of his father from cancer.

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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.

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Quotes

Mister Shhh: I'm looking for Earl Denton.
Rooster: [repeating] He's lookin' for Earl Denton.
Baby Sinister: Earl Denton ?
Mister Shhh: AKA Easy Wind.
Baby Sinister: AKA Easy Wind ? - What the fuck you here this, boy ? - AKA My dick, Uncle Salty!
Rooster: [repeating] AKA His dick, Uncle Salty!
Mister Shhh: I need to find Earl Denton.
Baby Sinister: What you think, - huh? - You think we just give him up - like I was your house nigger?
Rooster: [repeating] Yeah, does he look like your house nigger, punk?
Baby Sinister: Will you shut the fuck up for eleven seconds?
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Showbiz Today: Episode dated 4 December 1995 (1995)

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Soundtracks

Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead
Performed by Warren Zevon
Written by Warren Zevon, LeRoy Marinell (as LeRoy P. Marinell) and Waddy Wachtel (as Woody Wachtel)
Courtesy of Giant Records

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...