Another Day in Paradise (1998)

In the hope of a big score, two junkie couples team up to commit various drug robberies which go disastrously wrong leading to dissent, violence and murder.

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers:

Eddie Little (book), Christopher Landon,

Stars:

James Woods, Melanie Griffith, Vincent Kartheiser

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Woods	...	Mel
Melanie Griffith	...	Sid
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Bobbie
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Rosie
James Otis	...	Reverend
Branden Williams	...	Danny
Brent Briscoe	...	Clem
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Ty
Paul Hipp	...	Richard Johnson
Kim Flowers	...	Bonnie Johnson
John Gatins	...	Phil
Ryan Donahue	...	Barry
Christopher Doyle	...	Conan
Dick Hancock	...	Breather
Pamela Gordon	...	Waitress

Storyline

Bobbie is an addict and small-time thief. When one of his jobs goes bad, Mel is called in to patch him up. Mel offers him a chance at a bigger score. Over time, Mel and his girlfriend Sid become almost like parents to Bobbie and his girlfriend Rosie, but this can't last.

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Plot Keywords:

robbery | drug | violence | addict | murder | 

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Taglines:

We live at the abyss.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality, drug use and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1999 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Paradise

Filming Locations:

Firestone Boulevard, Norwalk, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$14,900 (USA) (1 January 1999)

Gross:

$1,025,234 (USA) (9 April 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chinese Bookie Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the final movie to receive the famous "Two Thumbs Up" from film critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel.

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Goofs

When Mel and Bobbie are pulling over by the clinic pharmacy, a reflection of a camera rain cover is visible in the windscreen of the car.

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Quotes

Mel: You're hotter than a freshly fucked fox in a forest fire.

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Connections

References The Flintstones (1960)

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Soundtracks

"Permanent Press"
Written by Keith Roustor, Greg Dalton
Performed by Polyester Players

User Reviews

powerful realism

This is one of the most disturbing, pessimistic, and overall depressing films I've ever seen -- naturally I loved it. It affected me powerfully. The camera work/artistic shot set-ups, along with the dark color quality set the tone for the whole movie. Not at all like the unappetizing "Kids," director Larry Clark's first feature, this movie is constantly shocking, but not just for the sake of shock value. It's unashamedly graphic in a way that most contemporary films avoid, making it cuttingly real. It also stands apart from most big heist movies, because it is character- rather than plot-driven.

James Woods is fantastic as always, and even Melanie Griffith (not one of my faves) is very well cast. The young Vincent Kartheiser, however, as a teen runaway turned junkie/petty criminal, steals the show. The camera loves him, and his adolescent volatility is painfully believable. I wasn't as much of a fan of Natasha Gregson Wagner, as Kartheiser's girlfriend, but even she surprised me with her dramatic final sequence.

WARNING: this movie is not for the faint of heart. I am personally a fan of anything that breaks new ground, or that defies convention. This film does both. But it is extremely graphic.