Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995)

Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead is the kind of mid-’90s crime picture that feels like a neon-lit confession: funny in a fatalistic way, romantic in a bruised-knuckle way, and oddly humane for a story about people who can’t outrun their past. Gary Fleder gives it a noir pulse and a Tarantino-adjacent snap in the dialogue, but what really sells it is the ensemble’s lived-in chemistry—Andy Garcia’s weary charisma anchoring a crew of unforgettable oddballs, with Christopher Lloyd and William Forsythe bringing sharp edges and surprising tenderness. The premise—crooks staring down the end after one bad job—turns into a mood piece about loyalty, regret, and the stories we leave behind, more elegy than shoot-’em-up. It’s not for everyone, especially if you’re sensitive to crude talk and very dark subject matter, but if you like crime dramas that savor character and language as much as danger, this one sticks with you like cigarette smoke in a good bar.

Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead is aiming for a slick, mid-’90s crime saga with quirky hitmen, snappy underworld lingo, and a tragic “one last job” spiral, and you can feel the ambition to be both funny and fatalistic. The problem is it often plays like a Pulp Fiction-era imitation: lots of talky setup, forced cool-guy banter, and plot turns that feel more contrived than inevitable, which makes the pacing drag even when the body count rises. If you’re sensitive to crude sexual dialogue and especially references tied to child molestation, this is absolutely not a casual watch, even without explicit scenes. Still, the cast commits (Garcia has genuine melancholy, and the supporting weirdos are memorable), so it may work for you if you enjoy shaggy, vibe-first crime movies and don’t need tight writing or momentum to stay engaged.