Elmore Leonard said that this is the best film adapted from one of his books. The story centers on Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark trying to collect from a client that died in a plane crash.
Turns out that Leo, the borrower might not have died in that crash, and he might have had his wife collect the insurance. Maybe he just took the money and went to Vegas instead of paying back the loan, and maybe Chili found out.
When Chili finds out that the Leo made a ton on the tables and moved to L.A. the casino boss asks him to collect from a Hollywood producer that stiffed the casino.
So street smart Chili ends up in the movie biz.
And it's great!
