The Mob Is Tough. But It's Nothing Like Show Business.

Starring: John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, James Gandolfini, Dennis Farina

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Rough business, this movie business. I'm gonna have to go back to loan-sharking just to take a rest." – Chili Palmer

Why watch this? This is a slick, star-packed mobster film that enjoys the fun it's having.

Plot Summary: Chili Palmer, a smooth Miami mobster and loan shark, travels to Hollywood to collect a debt from a B-movie producer named Harry Zimm. While in Los Angeles, Chili finds himself drawn into the world of filmmaking, discovering surprising similarities between the movie business and the criminal underworld. He attempts to use his street smarts and experience to navigate the cutthroat world of Hollywood and even pitches his own life story as a potential movie.

Dad's Preview: Travolta turns in one of his best performances as Chili Palmer, a very capable loan shark who travels to Hollywood to collect a debt. Once in Tinseltown, he quickly learns that "movie stuff" is a lot like his current job, so he decides to hang out a while. Travolta's patented sexy confidence is key to his character's success. This all-star cast is clearly having a good old time. And hey, it's just business, right?

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Jersey Films; MGM/UA Dist. Co.