Be Cool (2005)

Be Cool (2005) is an American crime comedy film based on Elmore Leonard’s novel of the same name. It serves as the sequel to Leonard’s 1990 novel Get Shorty, which was also adapted into a film in 1995. The story centers around Chili Palmer, a mobster who becomes disenchanted with filmmaking and turns to the music industry following the public murder of his friend Tommy Athens, who owned a struggling record label. Chili offers to help Tommy’s widow, Edie Athens, revive the business which is in debt to hip-hop producer Sin LaSalle for $300,000. Along the way, Chili meets and becomes impressed by club singer Linda Moon and works to free her from her contracts with corrupt producers Nick Carr and Raji. These two also employ the services of hitman Joe ‘Loop’ Lupino, who they pay to eliminate Chili before he can save Edie’s company by arranging for Linda to perform alongside Steven Tyler and Aerosmith.

Lasalle insists on receiving the $300,000 owed, but grants Chili a brief extension to gather the money plus the vig. When an attack is made on Chili by the Russians, Ivan Argianiyev, a member of the mob, is mistakenly killed by Joe Loop. Carr is angered by this error and demands Raji speaks with Loop immediately. In response to Loop’s disrespect towards him, Raji violently ends his life with a metal baseball bat. Attempting to deceive Chili, Carr hands him a pawn ticket and claims that the only copy of Linda’s contract can be found at a pawn shop owned by the Russians. However, Chili outwits Carr’s plan by having Edie tip off the FBI and orchestrating a raid on the shop. Raji and Elliot then plot against LaSalle by manipulating him into believing that Carr tricked Chili into giving over the $300,000 for Linda’s contract.