"Things to Do in Denver when you're Dead", great neo-noir starring Andy Garcia (1995)

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

I've been a fan of the great neo-noir film Things to Do in Denver when you're Dead for many years. It's an amazing film starring Andy Garcia, and is an unusual crime drama from many stand-points, not least of which is the Denver location.

I know the film didn't do well in it's theatrical release, and that it was unfairly compared to Pulp Fiction. However, I found it quite unique & well-done on many levels.

Since the DVD is long OOP these days, it's high time for a Blu release. I doubt this will happen due to the obscurity of the film, however.

[dvdmike]

It came out ages ago in a few regions

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Yeah, but TTDIDWYD it's still not on Region 1 Blu. I don't have a Region-free Blu player, so can't benefit from Blu's from other Region.

Plus, I would hesitate on buying import Blu's from countries outside the U.S. due to the more expensive price. But, that's me...

[dvdmike]

I love the film so not much stops me

[antennahead]

I have the Japanese release: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Thing...Blu-ray/39362/

It's region A and can be purchased from CD Japan for a very reasonable price including shipping to America. I was prepared for crappy video quality, it's listed as 1080i, but was pleasantly surprised at the amount of detail for an older release. Since you love this movie as much as I do, I'd highly recommend this version!

John

[Jope]

.

[RedHarvest]

Who owns this film? Thinking about importing, but wondering if, with all the deals currently in the works, it might appear on a U.S. Blu-ray.

[TheOneWithThePrize]

Miramax so I guess it's with Lionsgate.

EDIT: Amazon Video does state Lionsgate

[antennahead]

Originally Posted by BrianJoynt

Who owns this film? Thinking about importing, but wondering if, with all the deals currently in the works, it might appear on a U.S. Blu-ray.

I do, scroll up 2 posts It was well worth the purchase price for me.

[Splatterpunk]

In the massive wake of PULP FICTION, there were tons of slick noir-inspired crime films released. 1995’s THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD is one of the better ones, though it bombed at the time. Written by Scott Rosenberg and directed by Gary Fleder, the picture features a stunning array of outstanding character actors who all get moments to shine and who have great chemistry together. My friends and I watched this pretty regularly in the years following its debut, but until last night, I hadn’t seen it in at least six or seven years. I’m happy to report it still holds up.

Andy Garcia is our lead as the honorable and charismatic ex-gangster Jimmy the Saint. Jimmy’s been on the straight and narrow for some time, trying to make it with a start up company that combines bereavement services with videography. Unfortunately, right after he meets beautiful Dagney (Gabrielle Anwar), he is forced back into the crime game by his old mob boss, the quadriplegic Man with the Plan (scene chewing Christopher Walken). Reluctantly, Jimmy reunites his old crew, including the soulful salt of the earth Franchise (William Forsythe), the circulatory disease afflicted Pieces (Christopher Lloyd), the violently unstable Critical Bill (Treat Williams, who gets the film’s funniest moments), and the levelheaded Easy Wind (Bill Nunn). Botching the job, the crew goes on the run as the angry Man sends the ruthless assassin Mr Shhh (stoic Steve Buscemi) to eliminate them in the most painful ways possible. The rest of the stacked cast includes Jack Warden as a sort of streetwise Greek chorus style narrator, Fairuza Balk as a mouthy hooker with a heart of gold, and Marshall Bell as a crooked cop. Some familiar faces show up in tiny roles, as well, including Bill Cobbs, Deborah Strang, Jenny McCarthy, Don Cheadle, Tiny Lister, Josh Charles, Willie Garson, and blues legend Buddy Guy.

So, performances are excellent. Garcia carries the film but everyone seems to be having a blast playing their distinctive characters. Walken, in particular, kills as the immobile but still intimidating don. Fleder and lenser Elliot Davis provide just enough style to the visuals to propel the story while not deemphasizing Rosenberg’s snappy patter. Much of the slang terminology used by the just-this-side-of-quirky characters was invented whole cloth by the scribe and it mostly works. It also helps to give the characters a gangster universe that exists beside the normal one while simultaneously providing a lived-in quality. Subtly existential and slightly melancholy, the film ruminates on what entails a good life and the inevitability of death. Shot partially on location in Denver, it’s nice to see a story like this play out against a relatively unseen location. Besides all that, though, this is just a fun flick with an interesting collection of characters.

Gary Fleder’s THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD seems mostly forgotten and that’s a shame. Stuffed to the brim with beloved character actors and caked with quotable dialog, I’m surprised it doesn’t have more of a cult following. The DVD is a blurry mess, so I'm probably going to import the Japanese blu. In any case, its one misstep is that it tries to muddle its downbeat ending with a short scene at the very end. Really though, that’s a small nitpick. Highly recommended for fans of TRUE ROMANCE, GOODFELLAS, and SNATCH.

[antennahead]

^ Since you love the film as much as I do, I would highly recommend importing the Japanese Blu. While not perfect, it's miles better, IMO, than the DVD.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Still waiting for this excellent, underrated film on Region 1 Blu. The existing DVD is long OOP, and desperately needs an upgrade.