Get Shorty [Blu-ray]

John Travolta headlines this bitingly funny and realistic poke at Hollywood morality. He plays Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark with mob connections. A great movie buff, he has an almost photographic memory for film trivia. Chili goes to L.A. to collect a huge debt from Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman), a producer of bargain-basement films such as "Grotesque." Although he is supposed to hurt Zimm, the two hit it off after Chili pitches Zimm his new idea for a film. Zimm loves the idea, and the two team up to become co-producers. Chili's invaluable experience with the underworld helps make them Hollywood successes but not before they overcome a few obstacles, including Zimm's scream-queen girlfriend who falls for Chili, her superstar and egomaniacal ex-husband Martin Weir (Danny DeVito), whom the producers are trying to con into starring in the film. They also contend with other underworld characters who are eager for Zimm to pay up his debt. The story is based on author Elmore Leonard's scathing best-seller. Leonard states that Chili Palmer is a real gangster (who has since become a good-guy), but that his Hollywood exploits in the book and film are purely fictional. Palmer did help Leonard research the story though. Look closely in the opening scenes and you can find Chilli Palmer standing to the right of Travolta as he and character Ray "Bones" Barbaroni converse in a restaurant.