Another Day in Paradise (1998) User Reviews

A work of distinction - not for all tastes

[grahamclarke · 7/10 · 21 March 2004]

While vastly superior to Larry Clark's other films, "Another Day in Paradise" shares with them a brazen directness which makes it uneasy viewing, particular the many scenes picturing graphic violence. However it's a powerful and moving film with some exceptional acting talent on display.

Clark's obsession with teenagers of the wilder variety is prevalent as always but is balanced by the older surrogate parent couple played by James Woods and Melanie Griffith. Woods once again brings his famed intensity in a well rounded portrayal in which he's not only called upon to play a hardened, ruthless criminal, but also to reveal the more human qualities albeit buried very deep within.

Melanie Griffith is surprisingly effective as Wood's partner in crime. Clark's interest in them as people first and then as criminals, places this movie in a category well above the usual criminals on the run fare.

The younger criminal counterparts are played excellently by Natasha Gregson Wagner and Vincent Kartheiser. There is an almost documentary sense of authenticity to their acting. Oddly enough neither seemed to have as yet progressed to roles of much importance. Kartheiser in particular is an actor to watch out for. (He was superb in the somewhat flawed "The Unsaid").

The complexity of the relationship between the older childless couple and the teenage couple, while not overtly examined, is explored with subtlety which allows the viewer to make his own evaluation.

With large doses of drugs and violence this is clearly not a movie for all tastes. It is however a work of distinction.

Is James Woods The Greatest Film Actor Ever?

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 20 January 2012]

While Watching 'Another Day In Paradise', I was Stunned, Mesmerized & Awed by it's Lead Actor James Woods. Woods, One Of My All-Time Favorite Actors, Delivers an Outstanding Performance over-here. He actually left me Stunned, Mesmerized & Awed with his Performance. Woods, has had a thriving film-career, he has delivered remarkable performances all through his journey & 'Another Day In Paradise' is among his milestone works.

'Another Day in Paradise' Synopsis: 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.

'As a film, 'Another Day In Paradise' appealed to me in parts, not in totality. The Screenplay is a bit erratic here, but at times, it's definitely arresting. The Characters, in particular, I thought, were nicely defined. Larry Clark Directs This Drama with command. Cinematography is perfect. Editing & Art Design are fair.

Performance-Wise: It's Woods All The Way. He's Outstanding in his portrayal of a junkie who wants to make it big. It's a pleasure to watch an actor perform with such precision & such style. Melanie Griffith does well. Vincent Kartheiser gives his best shot. Natasha Gregson Wagner is adequate, while James Otis is decent.

On the whole, 'Another Day In Paradise' works prominently due to Woods's performance. An Actor Par Excellence!

An okay flick but pointless.

[=G= · 5/10 · 2 June 2001]

"Another Day in Paradise" is another pointless flick about crime, drugs, and people headed for the dumpster. The film offers solid performances, a good cast, and journeyman production which doesn't work in any genre save drama. An orgy of gratuitous and pointless wantonness, the only possible dramatic redemption comes from a thin story layer which tells of the quasi-family relationship materializing between the older and younger druggie couples. A good watch for those who enjoy flicks about violent loser-types. Others might want to pass on this one.

Superior crime story. One of James Woods best performances.

[Infofreak · 10 January 2002]

'Kids' director Larry Clark really comes up trumps with this fine story of crime, addiction and surrogate families. Relative unknown Vincent Kartheiser, and the up and coming Natasha Gregson Wagner ('Lost Highway', 'Two Girls and a Guy') are fine as the young wanna be thieves, but the real stars of the show are their mentors' played by James Woods and Melanie Griffith.

Griffith is often ridiculed for her flakiness, but should be applauded for taking riskier, more challenging material such as this and John Waters' 'Cecil B. DeMented'. Woods is a ridiculously underrated actor, and along with the equally underestimated James Caan, is rivaling the much more celebrated De Niro and Pacino as best American actors of their generation in my opinion. Woods is simply sensational as the motor mouth Mel, a complex and unpredictable character. His performance here ranks with 'Videodrome', 'Cop' and 'The Boost' as one of his most memorable.

Forget the spurious 'Kalifornia', 'Drugstore Cowboy' and 'True Romance' comparisons. They are all great movies, but this is no rehash or rip off. It's a fantastic movie in its own right. Don't miss this one!

Actors with flesh and blood make the story rise

[stefan-144 · 7/10 · 10 January 2003]

It's really not much of a story. Young small crooks meet older, slightly bigger crooks, they get into trouble, there's a lot of blood. But it grabbed me, through the performance of the actors. They made their characters come alive, to the point where I felt I could reach out and touch them - if I dared.

This is accomplished with a devoted way of acting, which can accurately be called naked. Vincent Kartheiser, playing the young crook, is indeed naked a lot in the film. With his slightly androgynous looks of, say, a Prince Valiant, nobody minds. But naked acting is more than that - and much more difficult than dropping one's pants.

James Woods repeatedly impresses me by participating in movies, which seem destined to devastate a movie star's career. He has a presence, a nerve, a rudeness free of compromises, making it impossible to separate the actor from the character - and that's exactly what naked acting is about.

The extremely gifted Melanie Griffith is doing the same, to at least the same degree. She has a nicer role to play in the movie, which is more difficult for an actor, and usually more boring, too. But she fills her character with so much, I feel like I've known her all my life. She can say her lines just right - and in between, her face, her eyes, say much more.

With his clothes on or off, Vincent Kartheiser has the same acting quality about him, although not as highly developed as with his seniors. Some scenes call for him to act out very basic emotions, and do it like a volcano. That's not easy, if doing it with more than heavy breathing and jumping about. He manages surprisingly well, even in a traumatic scene near the end of the movie, where he seems to be left to improvise, although there is so much turmoil inside his character, firm direction is really the only way out.

The director Larry Clark reassures us that he aims to stay in the borderland to what's taboo - maybe even cross it. I am glad. That's where art needs to be. Needs to.

Here, he sometimes uses a hand camera technique in half-chaotic shots, reminding of the Danish credo of film making called Dogma. It doesn't work that well here, though, because he has not stuck to it. The few scenes of Dogma style shooting, become little more than confusing.

On the other hand, he has told this story with compassion, with a commitment to the characters portrayed and a genuine care for their fate. In that way, he has also done his job naked.

He should be praised also, for daring to end the movie the way he did. I will not spoil it here, but I found the ending the only possible one - rising high above what conventional films of this kind would come up with.

Sex, Drugs, & Rhythm N' Blues

[squeerelist · 6/10 · 16 June 2013]

Read it here: http://squeerelist.blogspot.com/2013/06/another-day-in- paradise-1998.html

This Larry Clark drama dives you into the miserable life of junkie Bobbie. After a minor vending-machine robbery gone bad, Bobbie gets fixed up by the infamous thief Mel. The latter decides to hire the kid to nail one last deal that should set them up for life. Mel and his girlfriend Sid become the mentors of Bobbie and his girlfriend Rosie. Neither the characters nor the audience escape unhurt from this funky adventure. Another Day In Paradise is an ironic title for a movie fueled with violence, abuse, and misery. The frantic angles and camera movements used by Clark perfectly depict this atmosphere. The somewhat cheerful R'n'B soundtrack sweetens the painful road trip of our 'heroes' and contrasts with the pitiful path they've chosen. I follow those basket cases taking desperate measures with a certain sorrow but never do I root for them as they've buried themselves in this mess of a situation. This film is an efficient tale on how drugs can make you reach a point of no return and how everything from there is a downhill race to a filthy abyss. Another Day in Paradise seems so real, it makes me feel uneasy and almost sick. I would not recommend it if you don't feel alright because it will mess you up. Vincent Kartheiser in the lead role faultlessly pierces the screen with such a seedy and sore character. The sordid sexuality of our teenagers is only matched by the destructive relationship between James Woods (Mel) and Melanie Griffith (Sid). Woods as the manifest unstable and alcoholic crime king delivers an irreproachable interpretation. Another Day In Paradise is one of these movies that makes you feel glad your only drug consumption is your daily 3-cup-o'-joe intake and your occasional carbs overload.

1 reason to watch: it makes you feel good about yourself . It also makes you want to never do drugs. And never have sex again (this one might not be a valuable reason).

I'm no role model. I'm a junkie and a thief.

[lastliberal · 6/10 · 1 September 2007]

Melanie Griffith does a bang up job in this raw Indy film about drug dealers and junkies. Seeing her shoot up gave me the jitters - I really didn't like that part.

Starring James Woods (Ghosts of Mississippi, Salvador) and Griffith (Working Girl), and supported by Vincent Kartheiser (Alaska) and Natasha Gregson Wagner (Vampires: Los Muertos), this film was enjoyable and captivating to see the two youngsters sucked into a world of pain.

James Otis is also featured as a creepy reverend, and Lou Diamond Phillips appears in an uncredited role.

Worth a watch.

Too Depressing Even For A Woods Fan

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 14 August 2003]

I looked forward to seeing this because it starred James Woods , an actor who`s as underrated as he is impressive ( Check out his performance in ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA where he outshines De Niro , and this was when De Niro was still an acting god ) and who`s always been great at playing intense anti-heroes . I`d actually pay good money to see Woods read out his shopping list so when the satillite TV station issued a warning about " The following film contains scenes of violence " ( Warnings about violence is unprecedented at 1 am on a satillite TV station ) I thought I`d be seeing a real tour de force acting class by Woods but as the credits started the words " A film by Larry Clark " came up . I`ve never seen a film by Clark but knew of his reputation and ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE plays very much like how a Clark film is supposed to play : drug abuse , explicit teenage sex , drug dealing in a violent low concept plot with totally amoral characters on a fast track to hell . This is a really bleak , nihilistic , gritty film with some really cruel violence . It should be praised for showing how utterly pornographic violence is , but it`s also a film you won`t want to watch more than once no matter how much you love James Woods acting style

powerful realism

[fairygirl411 · 9/10 · 22 June 2002]

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.

interesting Melanie and more...

[Flints · 6/10 · 30 May 1999]

I enjoyed this film although it is quite graphic and somewhat disjointed. The violence (and a lot of it) is believable and the situations realistic.

Mr. Woods turns in a rather passive, understated performance (yes, I was shocked but if you consider what Woods as played in the past). Melanie Griffith is excellent as his girlfriend. Natasha Wagner is also good as the lost teenager in the middle. Vincent Kartheiser as the wanna-be gangster is the shinning star in this film and I will look forward to future work.

the end of the ad-lib

[triple-x · 3/10 · 26 March 1999]

Can we please place a permanent injunction on improvisation in films? This movie, an incomprehensible hash of bored, "shocking" casual drugs-and-sex-and-violence and limp criminals-as-surrogate-family themes carelessly thrown Pollock-style across the screen, almost nudges "The Daytrippers" and (the worst offender) "Blue in the Face" as the most irritating example of shameful, self-indulgent cinematic improv. Keitel and De Niro's sublimely playful guy-banter in "Mean Streets" has given way to a steady stream of desperately babbling pretty faces trying to fill silences with big emotion. Of course, it isn't such a terrible problem if you have great actors, tight direction, and a strong story, which you don't here. Yes, James Woods is electric as always (though his mid-film transformation from role model to abusive "dad" is as annoying as it is baffling) and heck, I'll pay 8 bucks to look at natascha gregson wagner for 2 hours. But as a movie, it's a joke.

Extremely well executed drama...

[dwpollar · 8/10 · 11 January 2010]

1st watched 12/26/2009 – 8 out of 10(Dir-Larry Clark): Extremely well executed drama about a couple of older drug-using thieves who take a younger couple under their wings as they survive in this rough un-forgiving chaotic world. The movie begins as the younger couple is introduced and the male character(played by Vincent Kartheiser) robs a community college's snack room of it's vending machine change and gets ferociously beat up by a security guard but then kills him. Uncle Mel(played by James Woods) then invites the kids to tag along with him and his girl and they graduate to bigger thefts with bigger consequences. The older couple(who can't have kids) kind of take on a tutoring and parenting role to the younger couple and they start developing a good friendship as well. It's obvious there are needs being fulfilled both ways in a companionship perspective as they both have many losses in their personal lives. Mistakes start being made after it's determined the younger girl is pregnant and the younger couple start evaluating whether this life is for them. This causes friction in the characters in this no-holds barred insane lifestyle movie where the characters just want to make good for themselves and this vulnerability brings the audience to like the characters. Melanie Griffith is un-expectedly excellent as the older woman and the overall acting and direction is very well done. You believe this story and that keeps you interested and involved until the end. The movie itself is not for the faint-at-heart but it is a definite un-heralded gem in the independent film-making world and should be viewed.

This is not the story of your life

[Ishkandar_B · 7/10 · 17 December 2008]

Another Day in Paradise is not the story of your life, it is not the story of my life.

It is the story of Bonnie and Clyde at their early forties…

They are junkies by now and they can't have children so they adopt a young fresh couple and they give them a place in their life.

They become family…

Things go wrong, of course...

I loved the moment when this Clyde / Mel guy punches his Bonnie / Sid in the face for a reason…

This film is an excellent choice for a rainy Sunday evening at home

Trash Belongs In the Garbage, Not On the Big Screen

[NHNeil · 1/10 · 22 March 2004]

What is it with people thinking that Larry Clark is actually talented? I saw two of his movies this week and this guy sucks. His movies go nowhere, have violence in them just for violence sake and if he made his movies any darker, you wouldn't be able to see what the hell was going on. Maybe that would be for the best.

Why James Woods and Melanie Griffith would agree to be in this movie couldn't have been anything more than a venue to line their pockets.

This movie wasn't as bad as Kids (1995) regarding the nudity that was needless but the violence made up for it. Anything I see with Clark's name on it at the video store will remain on the shelf as far as I'm concerned.

Familiar but worth a look

[kilgore-7 · 13 May 1999]

Larry Clark's (KIDS) second film, ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE features an explosive performance by James Woods as a "professional" thief/junkie, who along with his girlfriend (a well cast Melanie Griffith) adopt two young lovers (Vincent Kartheiser and Natasha Gregson Wagner) and hit the road in search of drugs and money. Mel (Woods) and Sid (Griffith), who see Rosie (Wagner) and Bobbie (Kartheiser) as younger versions of themselves, teach them the ropes of criminal life.

It is a familiar story, and there is no doubt the characters' vision of paradise shown in the beginning of the film, with its endless supply of drugs and feeling of family, is quickly going to deteriorate into violence and death. I am reminded of the superior DRUGSTORE COWBOY, which also follows a "family" of junkies who rob to pay for their habits, but fine performances by the four leads, especially Woods, make PARADISE worth a look.

Clark's cinema vérité style of direction (a la KIDS) supplies the feeling of uneasiness throughout the film and heightens the impact of the jarring violence. The soundtrack of great soul tunes effectively mirrors the contradictory feelings of despair and hope that plague the characters. The film is not without flaws but recommended to fans of the road/lovers on the lam movies like BADLANDS, TRUE ROMANCE etc.

James Woods is Over the Top and Melanie Griffith is Tops, but That Doesn't Save This Film

[savanna-2 · 6/10 · 10 April 2000]

Let's just say that this film is almost as far from paradise as one can get. Not exactly an original premise and overtones of "Kalifornia," are evident throughout the film, this film doesn't even come close to being a "Kalifornia" film.

Four heroin addicts set out on a road trip to do a "big job" that will not only make them flush with cash, but with enough heroin to last a good long time.

Griffith and Woods are the high notes of the film and it's probably the strongest of all of Melanie Griffith's roles. James Woods is terrific and the film isn't afraid to show the depths of depravity caused by incessant and increasing heroin use/abuse.

Wood at it's best in a well-directed movie

[haggar · 7/10 · 26 December 2002]

I thought this was a very enjoyable movie, with good acting all around, including the two kids, Kartheiser and Gregson Wagner. The story of smalltime criminals that want to make it big, the story about drugs and violence, is perhaps not very new, but the way it's narrated in "Another Day in Paradise" makes it really worthwhile to watch the movie. What is, to some extent, new or different in this story is the theme of growing up, an issue that the two young protagonists are facing with fear and resentment.

So I think this is a movie that is fun to watch and shouldn't disappoint any kind of viewer, and has a high re-watchability factor. In the scale from 1 to 10, I give it a solid 7.

nothing like Kalifornia! And that's a good thing.

[toaster-8 · 7/10 · 25 June 2000]

I can't understand for a minute why anyone would write a bad review of this film.

I read complaints that it was unoriginal, and even saw comparisons to Kalifornia, no film deserves that!

So blood and violence and realism are "out" are they? If this film was made in the early '90s it would be hailed as groundbreaking stuff, but just because a few films similar, but nowhere near as good were made before it, it's unoriginal. Truly great films transcend what's "in", and this film is one. The acting is superb and the photography is great. I'd just like to end by saying I hated "kids", so I'm not just a weirdo Larry Clark freak.

A unique amalgamation of flammable parts

[Stay_away_from_the_Metropol · 7/10 · 8 March 2024]

Is that a young Leonardo DiCaprio? No! But clearly they wanted a kid with his vibe. Oh, it's the young man from Madmen, Vincent Kartheiser, years before he found success with that series. What a gnarly way to kick off your career...

This is certainly not a pleasant watch but it's definitely a peculiar one. It is a unique amalgamation of flammable parts. This was infamous director Larry Clark's follow-up to his wave-making depresso collaborative masterpiece with Harmony Korine, KIDS. I suppose after the success of that, he needed to join forces with another fireball of some sort, but this time in the form of a Hollywood actor who's been roped in for much longer, that being James Woods.

Oh, James Woods...utterly gnarly James. If cocaine took form as a human being, it would basically just be James Woods. I've heard rumors that he is a colossal hothead in reality. Is anyone shocked by that? You can feel the potential of his heinousness through every scene whenever he is on screen. And here, in this film, as is the case with many films, he plays an absolute monster. Of course, he produced this film, so he put the whole thing together so he could play a monster. I'm sure it comes very naturally for him!

What else do we add to the equation? Why, Melanie Griffith of course! The charming babe who had a hideously disturbing beginning as a teen actor in Hollywood, then broke through as an indie darling in the mid 80's, then found mainstream success at the end of the decade, only to be cast in endless stinkers throughout most of the rest of the 90's. It seems awfully fitting for James Woods to reach in and grab someone with an immensely abusive and traumatizing past to play his punching bag throughout this entire film! In one sense, it's nice to see Griffith returning to grittier films, but in another it's kind of dark when you hear so much about the reality of these actors.

The movie starts somewhat shockingly abrasively as our protagonist seems to nearly get beat to death within the first 5 minutes. It's extremely bloody, and I was very confused as to why it was so brutal, but I was very intrigued. As a big fan of Clark's two most celebrated films (Kids and Bully), I was quickly reminded why Larry Clark is a name no one ever forgets - he makes his movies bleak and heavy, as heavy as possible, and this one NEVER lets up. You get brief glimpses of relief and humanity, but it's mostly one brutal or depressing sequence after another, with a REALLY horrible and wholly unfitting soundtrack playing over the whole thing.

Of course, I did enjoy the Clarence Carter appearance as I am a big Clarence Carter fan, but the rest of the of the soundtrack was the worst part of the film, and really took away from the whole vibe of it in my opinion. The directing and cinematography is full-on typical Larry Clark, a lot of extended sequences of our young leads just lying around mostly nude, extremely high, fornicating, etc - but the horrible music I'm gonna assume was just picked by James Woods (LOL, it seems to fit his energy?), in an attempt to create some sort of Tarantino-ish juxtaposition, sporting "feel good rock and roll" songs over utterly bleak sequences, but it just never works. This isn't a dark comedy, so don't soundtrack it like one. If this film had a fittingly dark soundtrack or score, or at least a moodier or more unique one, I think the film would have been more highly regarded and hit people harder. At it's core this is a very, very heavy movie and all the ill-fitting soundtrack does is take away from the effectiveness of that.

I wouldn't recommend this to many people but if you are a Larry Clark fan (or a James Woods fan? LOL) you definitely should see it. Some of the gun fights are actually pretty top notch. Lots of blood, lots of drugs, and lots of horrible, horrible people, making horrible decisions. It's not perfect, but it does stand out as a bizarre installment in the filmography of everyone involved.

Unflinching

[faxman · 8/10 · 14 June 1999]

I started watching this film rather late at night thinking I would unwind for a few minutes and then retire for the day. As I sat watching this film it's intensity began to build and draw me in. The story itself is nothing new. It was the performers that kept me involved. It was no surprise to me that James Woods would be his excellent self. The pleasant surprise was Melanie Griffith. She displayed some range I had'nt witnessed from her before. As the young street couple Vincent Kartheiser and Natasha Gregson Wagner show great promise as young actors.Kartheiser in particular. Execution is raw and at times it's hard to witness whats going on. Recommended. Give it a shot.

America's Secret Weapon

[chinaskee · 6/10 · 28 July 2001]

After seeing three of Larry Clark's movies,I've come to the conclusion that he just may be America's secret weapon against crime.I think the only reason he opens all his films with a couple of teen-agers getting laid is because he wants his target audience to think they're about to see another Hollywood film that glorifies sex and violence.But Mr. Clark has something else in mind entirely.Once he's got his audience ensnared he wastes no time in letting everybody know just how stupid and immoral criminal acts are.Everybody reaps what they sow in a Larry Clark film.Nobody gets away with anything.If this film has any fault with it at all,it's that it telegraphs what's going to happen to everyone,which is something the actors and the script itself can share equal blame for.Some of the camera work is a bit choppy,but that's to be expected in a film that uses as much steadi-cam footage as this one does.Whereas "Bonnie and Clyde" made robbing banks look like fun,this film's message is just the opposite.Robbing and killing isn't fun at all.It's stupid and ugly,and all that money won't buy you a ticket to Paradise.You won't even get close.

Offensively Brutal And Brutally Offensive

[[e-mail] · 2/10 · 10 December 2006]

Let me begin with a personal note as a film and television buff, more on the enjoyment side of life: I love what James Woods can do and has done, and I always love Melanie Griffith, and Natasha Wagner was very good in this awful, miserable, stinking "true crime" essay.

Whoever really wrote this film apparently never spent any time talking to real criminals with real criminal talents: yes, some thieves are junkies but they have very short careers as thieves. Truly successful thieves are seldom caught because they don't do "junk" or any drugs before going on a score ( job ).

The James Woods character was true to this paradigm in the beginning of this film, and then the script fell apart completely. He turns into a raging, alcoholic lunatic .... nice work for a high-strung guy like Woods, maybe, but not in the least bit believable.

Most criminals are lazy. If they wanted to work they would work.

These people in this film are beautiful, self-indulgent, drug-addled narcissistic losers. They couldn't pull off a real score in the real world, the real world where a big and beefy security guard who beats the living hell out of a skinny kid ( as happens in the early scenes of this "DOG" ), keeps him beat down and doesn't let him up. Ever.

How many ways did I find to hate this film ? Many. Even totally vulgar people -- like most sneak thieves and junkies -- have a larger vocabulary than these cretins. And the 'rip-off' scenes with the neo-Nazi bikers ? Puhlease. All rednecks ain't neo-Nazis and those who are neo-Nazi speed dealers just ain't that dumb !!

This film earned a two because Natasha Wagner was extremely good in her role as Rose and because Melanie Griffith still has 'that something special,' or at least she had it for this brutal and offensively stupid film. I'm not one to sing praises of real criminals for any reason, but the reality of these criminal types in this horrible film is that they'd all be dead or in jail by Act 2, Scene 1. Watching a lousy Zombie movie would be time better spent than this .... thing ... and I hate zombies.

Junkies on the Run - DRUGSTORE COWBOY Style...

[Don-102 · 8/10 · 7 July 1999]

Another film of the drug/gangster sub-genre, ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE is upper echelon material as far as these pictures go. It is also a sibling to DRUGSTORE COWBOY unintentionally. There are so many similarities because it is impossible to make this type of movie nowadays without being repetitive. No matter. Director Larry Clarke (KIDS, ew!) and main booster James Woods himself dive into that disgusting and sometimes frantically hilarious world of sex, drugs, and driving around. The film works because there are some good characterizations here and people who actually show some concern for each other throughout the haze of it all.

Melanie Griffith plays "Sid", James Woods' girlfriend in the story and delivers some of the finest moments of her career. Not since WORKING GIRL have I seen such a likeable and ballsy portrayal from Griffith, who is a junkie with a knack for mothering the 2 teen runaways and a potent trigger finger when one is needed. The runaways are the children Woods and Griffith parent vicariously through in the most unusual of ways. The kids (Vincent Kartheiser, Natasha Wagner) are a version of Bonnie and Clyde, while the adults resemble a warped Ozzie and Harriett. It all adds up to a group of 4 remembering DRUGSTORE COWBOY. This crew needs drugs and they get them by stealing from pharmacists just as Matt Dillon's crew did.

The setting is the early 1970's I guess, and the music reflects the period well. Funk and blues reign over the film's violent and illegal activities while adding a sense of romance to it. You get that feeling in your heart that it won't last (a la BONNIE AND CLYDE, DRUGSTORE COWBOY). Woods character starts out cynical and wise to the "life", but turns ugly as you figure him to do. The young kids who looked up to him throughout grow tired naturally, but his reluctance to grow old possesses him to keep them around. This is where Melanie Griffith is able to shine. She is a sweet, attractive woman who happens to stick needles in her neck. Nobody's perfect.

James Woods was born to play the creep. He has some great lines in ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE. His stories are funny, his trademarks are constant (booyah!), and his fits are worth the price of admission. He is so good at coming across initially confident, eventually desperate and evil. Woods must have had much faith in director Clarke's abilities and the casting of Natalie Wood's daughter, Natasha is a nice, offbeat touch. This is low-budget, nasty fare, a descendant of the countless druggie flicks of the 70's, 80's and PULP FICTION. It is sometimes amazing to see how low actors will go to capture this wild world of fun and drugs in the dark.

RATING: ***

What's with Melanie Griffith's top lip?

[somf · 7/10 · 23 May 1999]

Ok this was a pretty good road picture. The cast was very good and the two young leads really pulled off a couple of difficult portrayals. James Woods was excellent as always. I gave it a seven, but now the burning question. Is Melanie Griffiths' plastic surgeon the same guy that did Goldie Hawn's collagen job in First Wives Club? And what is with that stuff anyway? Man it really is awful looking when it's done wrong as it often is. I long for the Melanie Griffiths of years past. Anyone remember "the Drowning Pool". Conclusion- Rent this mainly to look at a really ugly lip.

Shameful

[Franky · 1/10 · 5 January 1999]

Everyone involved in this movie, except James Woods, should be ashamed of themselves. There are some scenes that are so bad, it's like amateur night. And, this includes the performances of the three principals besides Mr. Woods. In fact, if it weren't for Mr. Woods stellar performance, this film should have never been release.

Actually, even with Mr. Woods performance, this film should have never been made. What was Mark Amin thinking when he green-lit this picture (if he was the one)?