John Travolta: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

5 Awesome Performances...

5. Chili Palmer - Get Shorty (1995)

An adaptation of Elmore Leonard's excellent book of the same name, Get Shorty is a hugely entertaining crime comedy, with John Travolta driving the picture from beginning to end with enviably effortless charisma. Protagonist Chili Palmer is an intriguing character in Leonard's novel, but Travolta provides a refreshing twinkle in this adaptation, presenting him as a no-nonsense mob associate armed with a cigarette, a half-smile, and an idea that can't fail. The supporting cast all do great work, but Travolta really shines as the loan shark on the fringes of Hollywood, giving Palmer an intimidating tough guy image accompanied by a curious appeal. He continuously appears to have thoughts dancing behind his eyes, and it's always great to see a fresh, smart, unpredictable character like this on screen. The performance deserves further credit when you consider how the whole film's main idea anchors on Travolta too, with the character of Palmer acting as a bridge between organised crime and the movie business to reveal how the two industries are not so different after all. That's a heck of a lot of weight to carry, yet the star remains cool as a cucumber throughout. Travolta was awarded a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Palmer, and his performance in Get Shorty remains coolly slotted alongside some of his best work.