Be Cool

2005, Comedy, 1h 59m

172 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Be Cool is tepid, square, and lukewarm; as a parody of the music business, it has two left feet. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

Having made the transition from gangster to movie producer, Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is ready for the next big move. Setting his sights on the music industry, Palmer enters a precarious business that has more than just temperamental musicians: Russian mobsters, rival producers and hit men are out to bring him down. From witnessing the murder of his friend (James Woods) to romancing a music executive's widow (Uma Thurman), it seems as though it might all fall apart, but Palmer has his ways.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Sensuality|Language|Sexual References|Violence)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    F. Gary Gray
  • Producer:
    Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, David Nicksay
  • Writer:
    Peter Steinfeld, Elmore Leonard
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $55.8M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Sound Mix:
    Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

John Travolta
Chili Palmer
Uma Thurman
Edie Athens
Vince Vaughn
Raji
Cedric the Entertainer
Sinclair "Sin" Russell
André Benjamin
Dabu
Steven Tyler
Self
Robert Pastorelli
Joe Loop
Christina Milian
Linda Moon
Paul Adelstein
Hy Gordon
Debi Mazar
Marla
Gregory Alan Williams
Darryl
Harvey Keitel
Nicki Carr
Dwayne Johnson
Elliot Wilhelm
Danny DeVito
Martin Weir
James Woods
Tommy Athens
James Gandolfini
Bear
F. Gary Gray
Director
Peter Steinfeld
Screenwriter
Elmore Leonard
Writer
F. Gary Gray
Executive Producer
Elmore Leonard
Executive Producer
Danny DeVito
Producer
Michael Shamberg
Producer
Stacey Sher
Producer
David Nicksay
Producer
Jeffrey Kimball
Cinematographer
Sheldon Kahn
Film Editor
Sheila Jaffe
Casting
Michael Corenblith
Production Design
Lauren E. Polizzi
Art Direction
Dan Webster
Art Direction
Denise Pizzini
Set Decoration
Mark Bridges
Costume Designer
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Critic Reviews for Be Cool

All Critics (172) | Top Critics (45) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (120)

View All Critic Reviews (172)

Audience Reviews for Be Cool

  • May 28, 2015
    Based on the Elmore Leonard novel, Be Cool is a satirical crime thriller. After hearing a promising young singer at a night club movie producer Chili Palmer decides to go into the music business and producer her album, but first he'll have to get her record contract from a rival company and settle a debt with local gangsters. Starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, Cedric the Entertainer, Harvey Keitel, and The Rock, the film features an all-star cast. However, the characters are a little too lighthearted and silly. In fact the tone of the entire film lacks Leonard's typical edginess, and goes more for farce than satire. Still, Be Cool is fairly entertaining and delivers some good laughs.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jul 27, 2013
    It has a dynamic cast of actors, musicians and entertainers, but Be Cool can't deliver from the amount of starpower it possessed. The film is bland and has a giggle every now and then, but otherwise, just flat. 2/5
    Eugene B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 25, 2011
    I dont remember a whole lot but I remember thinking, "What the hell is the movie even about?" The commercials boasted an all-star cast but that is all that it delivered. One forgettable, dry, and pretentious movie.
    Albert K Super Reviewer
  • Jun 29, 2011
    chili palmer deserved better then this trash. i loved the first film but this is a cheap cash in
    Brendan N Super Reviewer
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