Fri 5 Sep 2014
A Movie Review by Dan Stumpf: 2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY (1996).
Posted by Steve under Crime Films , Reviews[5] Comments
2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY. MGM, 1996. Danny Aiello, Greg Cruttwell, Jeff Daniels, Teri Hatcher, Glenne Headly, Peter Horton, Marsha Mason, Paul Mazursky, James Spader, Eric Stoltz, Charlize Theron, Keith Carradine, Louise Fletcher. Director: John Herzfeld.
2 Days in the Valley is sort of Harry Stephen Keeler meets Pulp Fiction. The film starts with a protracted interrogation which turns into a Drug Killing, which turns into a frame-up which turns into….
Meanwhile we pick up on unrelated plot threads about an aspiring detective, a weary vice cop, a suicidal -director trying to find a home for his dog, a high-powered agent and his brow-beaten secretary. And as the web-work plot tightens into a recognizable pattern, we’re suddenly in the midst of a wacky story propelled by colorful characters to a violent and highly satisfying conclusion.
September 6th, 2014 at 2:12 am
I love this film. It’s very L.A. and L.A. is my hometown, where I’ve lived since 1960. I’ve lived in the Valley since 1989.
The Tarantino crime thriller influence is certainly here, but so is the decades earlier L.A. influence from Robert Altman’s “The Long Goodbye”).
Altman’s protege Alan Rudolph’s “Welcome To L.A.”,
Williard Carroll’s “Playing By Heart” and even Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” share “2 Days In The Valley”‘s apparent aimless plotting that reference Los Angeles’ notorious lack of connection.
Eventually all these films instead reveal themselves instead to be rather intricately plotted as the character’s lives interconnect.
Paul Mazursky is especially good in this as the would-be suicide trying to find a home for his dog, but everyone except Eric Stoltz is excellent. This is Charlize Theron’s first credited film appearance, btw.
September 6th, 2014 at 8:05 am
I’d never heard of this movie, but it’s in my Amazon shopping cart right now. Just looking at the names in the cast would have convinced me. Dan’s review was only the tipping point.
September 6th, 2014 at 11:47 am
I saw this one when it first came out. I don’t remember all the details, but I do remember coming away impressed, especially with the pacing
September 6th, 2014 at 5:52 pm
Although skewered a bit this is basically the John D. MacDonald/ John O’Hara plot ala CRY HARD CRY FAST. A group of diverse people with no connection for the most part are drawn toward a central event — a car wreck, a hurricane, some other catastrophic event — where their fates will twine and enter-twine in unexpected ways.
I enjoyed this one because it was offbeat and well directed and acted, but it’s very much a sort of off kilter paean to LA and environs.
September 7th, 2014 at 10:44 am
Scott O’Hara — not John.