"things to do in denver when you're dead" simply stinks of death. it tells the tale of five former criminals coming together for one last job that goes horriblly wrong. Apperentlly jimmy the saint (andy garcia), the hero of the story owes the big boss some money. The boss (christopher walken) wants to collect by letting jimmy do him a small favour. The man's son has lost quite a few of his marbles after his girlfriend left him for another guy. All jimmy needs to do is frighten the other guy into not marrying the girl. simple really.
 Jimmy
is now a legit owner of a service recording dying pepole's advice to their
relatives. but having no other choice he goes to recruit his old team mates
promising them ten grand each for a night's work. what seems like a routine
job falls apart in the worst way imaginable, and the boss takes contracts
out an all but jimmy, leaving him a way out. jimmy can now run, or stay
and take care of his friends. making all of this more difficult is the
fact that jimmy found the love of his life in that week (played by the
lovely gabrielle anwar).
This movie deals with death in a lot of ways. Each of the men has to examine his life when they think they are going to die (death is played in this movie by indie star steve buscemi, as the leathal and silent hitman Mr shuuush) and see what's important. Adding to that are the advices given by jimmy's dying clients which are used as a kind of commentary throughout the film. |
 The
casting in this movie is amazing, combining what are obvious casting choices
(christopher walken is deliciously evil as the boss), and some really great
less obvious choices, like christopher lloyd and treat williams who haven't
been seen in a few years, and have great parts. The biggest contribution
comes however from andy garcia, who brings real compassion and tenderness
to jimmy.
although most reviewers believe otherwise, this movie owes a lot more to the old gangster movies, than to either "resevoir dogs" or "the usual suspects", it uses cliches from that genre, in a wonderful twisted way. |
Oh and it also has the most rewarding death scene ever (yes it's better than mr. blonde's).