Rating: 
Summary: IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, GO SEE IT
Review: Definitely an excellent movie. James Woods did a great portrayal of Mel, the man who shows the kids the ropes. Melanie Griffith played the character of Sid so wonderfully that it almost made me wish she was my mother. I would have given this movie five stars if it hadn't been for Natasha Gregson Wagner's, although very well acted, extremely annoying version of Rosie. The real surprise was the backbone of the film, Bobbie, played brilliantly by Vincent Kartheiser.
Rating: 
Summary: Come on now
Review: Did I watch the same movie the other reviews watched? The acting was par, direction stunk. Was Woods supposed to be Schizo? The plot had "Drugstore Cowboy" written all over it, in fact, skip this and buy the other! You won't be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: No-one Plays a Sleaze Better Than James Woods
Review: Especially when the movie takes place in the 70's (see "Casino" also) and he's all tricked out in those greasy retro seventies duds. I suspected this before, but having seen this movie I have decided no other actor in the business can come close to him when it comes to playing a sleazy hustler-type. Or just a sleaze. Anyway, he and the rest of the cast in the movie are great. Melanie Griffith, not a favorite of mine, does her best performance I've yet to see as Sid, Mel's junkie girlfriend with the heart of gold, a woman who can shoot smack directly into her neck without flinching but who can also sing a sweet lullaby to soothe Natasha Wagner's character. I especially like the way the movie does not glamorize drug use--the characters all look like crap, and Wagner's character has spotty skin and thinning hair. I was really expecting throughout the movie that all the 4 main characters will end up dead, probably from killing one another, but this didn't happen--the people left alive at the end were not the ones that I thought would be. All the actors did the movie for scale and from what I understand Woods even ended up funding most of the movie when the production ran out of money at one point. Lots of good black humor, and Woods is always great in everything, but best when cast in really nasty roles like this, which was probably written for him. Completely disgusting, but still somehow likeable, and always hilarious. Some of the clothes are to die for (though they look more late 60's than 70's if you wanna get picky, but who cares?) One of those drug movies such as "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" where, if you had any temptation at all to do drugs, that urge will definitely be gone by the end of the movie.
Rating:
Summary: No-one Plays a Sleaze Better Than James Woods
Review: Especially when the movie takes place in the 70's (see "Casino") and he's all tricked out in those greasy retro seventies duds. I suspected this before, but having seen this movie I have decided no other actor in the business can come close to him when it comes to playing a sleazy hustler-type. Or just a sleaze.Anyway, he and the rest of the cast of the movie are great. Melanie Griffith, not a favorite of mine, does her best performance I've yet to see as Sid, Mel's junkie girlfriend with a heart of gold, a woman who can shoot smack directly into her neck without flinching but who can also sing a sweet lullaby to soothe Natasha Wagner's emotionally immature character. Yes, she can act- I finally had to admit it to myself in the last 20 minutes of the movie when she very realistically portays a woman whose entire world is finally falling apart, and who has to make some serious decisions. The movie's plot (based on the book by Eddie Little) concerns a young drug-addicted couple named Bobby and Rosie, who survive on petty crime. Bobby's luck finally runs out while he is trying to jimmy a vending machine, and by the time he gets home to Rosie, he is in pretty bad shape. Fortunately, his "Uncle Mel" is called over to patch him up and shoot him full of narcotics. Mel and his girlfriend Sid decide to take the young couple under their wing, and teach them to become career criminals like them. They have fun at first, but... I especially liked the way the movie does not glamorize drug use--the characters all look like cr-p, and Wagner's character has spotty skin and thinning hair. I was really expecting throughout the movie that all the 4 main characters would end up dead, (probably from finally killing one another), but this didn't happen--the people left alive at the end were not the ones that I thought would be. I don't recommend this movie if you are squeamish about any of the following: needles and injections (my husband is, and actually got up and left the room), seeing heroin use portrayed in a very realistic light, or James Woods dressed like a pimp. All the actors did the movie for scale and from what I understand Woods even ended up funding most of the movie when the production ran out of money at one point. Lots of good black humor, and Woods is always great in everything, but best when cast in really nasty roles like this, which was probably written for him. As usual in this type of part, he's completely disgusting, but still somehow likeable (at least for the first 2/3 of this movie), and always hilarious. Some of the clothes that Griffith and Wagner wear are to die for (though they look more late 60's than 70's if you wanna get picky, but who cares?) This is also one of those drug movies such as "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" or "Clean and Sober" where, if you had any temptation at all to do drugs in the first place, that urge will definitely be gone by the end of the movie. I didn't even feel like even drinking a frikkin' glass of wine again after I saw this. But apart from being a subtle "just say no" movie, I found it entertaining overall, enough to purchase it. Recommended for Woods fans, and adult (this is not a movie for kids) fans of Griffith's who would like to see her in something very different.
Rating:
Summary: No-one Plays a Sleaze Better Than James Woods
Review: Especially when the movie takes place in the 70's (see "Casino" also) and he's all tricked out in those greasy retro seventies duds. I suspected this before, but having seen this movie I have decided no other actor in the business can come close to him when it comes to playing a sleazy hustler-type. Or just a sleaze. Anyway, he and the rest of the cast in the movie are great. Melanie Griffith, not a favorite of mine, does her best performance I've yet to see as Sid, Mel's junkie girlfriend with the heart of gold, a woman who can shoot smack directly into her neck without flinching but who can also sing a sweet lullaby to soothe Natasha Wagner's character. I especially like the way the movie does not glamorize drug use--the characters all look like crap, and Wagner's character has spotty skin and thinning hair. I was really expecting throughout the movie that all the 4 main characters will end up dead, probably from killing one another, but this didn't happen--the people left alive at the end were not the ones that I thought would be. All the actors did the movie for scale and from what I understand Woods even ended up funding most of the movie when the production ran out of money at one point. Lots of good black humor, and Woods is always great in everything, but best when cast in really nasty roles like this, which was probably written for him. Completely disgusting, but still somehow likeable, and always hilarious. Some of the clothes are to die for (though they look more late 60's than 70's if you wanna get picky, but who cares?) One of those drug movies such as "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" where, if you had any temptation at all to do drugs, that urge will definitely be gone by the end of the movie.
Rating:
Summary: No-one Plays a Sleaze Better Than James Woods
Review: Especially when the movie takes place in the 70's (see "Casino") and he's all tricked out in those greasy retro seventies duds. I suspected this before, but having seen this movie I have decided no other actor in the business can come close to him when it comes to playing a sleazy hustler-type. Or just a sleaze. Anyway, he and the rest of the cast of the movie are great. Melanie Griffith, not a favorite of mine, does her best performance I've yet to see as Sid, Mel's junkie girlfriend with a heart of gold, a woman who can shoot smack directly into her neck without flinching but who can also sing a sweet lullaby to soothe Natasha Wagner's emotionally immature character. Yes, she can act- I finally had to admit it to myself in the last 20 minutes of the movie when she very realistically portays a woman whose entire world is finally falling apart, and who has to make some serious decisions. The movie's plot (based on the book by Eddie Little) concerns a young drug-addicted couple named Bobby and Rosie, who survive on petty crime. Bobby's luck finally runs out while he is trying to jimmy a vending machine, and by the time he gets home to Rosie, he is in pretty bad shape. Fortunately, his "Uncle Mel" is called over to patch him up and shoot him full of narcotics. Mel and his girlfriend Sid decide to take the young couple under their wing, and teach them to become career criminals like them. They have fun at first, but... I especially liked the way the movie does not glamorize drug use--the characters all look like cr-p, and Wagner's character has spotty skin and thinning hair. I was really expecting throughout the movie that all the 4 main characters would end up dead, (probably from finally killing one another), but this didn't happen--the people left alive at the end were not the ones that I thought would be. I don't recommend this movie if you are squeamish about any of the following: needles and injections (my husband is, and actually got up and left the room), seeing heroin use portrayed in a very realistic light, or James Woods dressed like a pimp. All the actors did the movie for scale and from what I understand Woods even ended up funding most of the movie when the production ran out of money at one point. Lots of good black humor, and Woods is always great in everything, but best when cast in really nasty roles like this, which was probably written for him. As usual in this type of part, he's completely disgusting, but still somehow likeable (at least for the first 2/3 of this movie), and always hilarious. Some of the clothes that Griffith and Wagner wear are to die for (though they look more late 60's than 70's if you wanna get picky, but who cares?) This is also one of those drug movies such as "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" or "Clean and Sober" where, if you had any temptation at all to do drugs in the first place, that urge will definitely be gone by the end of the movie. I didn't even feel like even drinking a frikkin' glass of wine again after I saw this. But apart from being a subtle "just say no" movie, I found it entertaining overall, enough to purchase it. Recommended for Woods fans, and adult (this is not a movie for kids) fans of Griffith's who would like to see her in something very different.
Rating: 
Summary: Like watching an accident -- fascinating.
Review: Excellent acting by all concerned make this a powerful film. Sort of like "Boogie Nights" in its raw-nerve story. It deserves a lot more attention than it got.
Rating:
Summary: another exceptional, harrowing drama from Larry Clark
Review: Extremely bleak, gritty drama about a young pair of novice hoodlums (Vincent Kartheiser and Natasha Wagnor) adopted by two adult criminals (James Woods and Melanie Griffith) and the madness that ensues. Depressing look at the lives of criminal junkies and the lack of contempt for themselves. You despise these people, yet can not turn away. This is a well-made and tough film from the director who brought us the unrelenting Kids, Larry Clark. Not quite as severe, but also taking a rough look at the depraved lifestyles of particularly unpleasant human beings. Clark proves himself once again that he's a master of the American nightmare. Not for all tastes but exceptionally well-done filmmaking for people who can stand it. Though R it leans more toward an NC-17. Rated R for some strong scenes of graphic bloody violence, extreme profane language, strong graphic drug use and content including a related death, depravity, a strong sexual situation with nudity, and some graphic sexual dialogue.
Rating:
Summary: Can't believe I LOVED THIS FILM!!!
Review: For someone who loves sweet romances like "Titanic" and "One Fine Day," this brutal film got under my skin and wouldn't let go. James Woods and Melanie Griffith deserve their high critical praise (I was shocked when Siskel & Ebert and others gave this film such raves). And don't be surprised to see Woods & Griffith nominated for Oscars. She was so "banged up" and REAL as a heroin addict, it made me cry and had my flesh crawl at once -- and he scared me as much as Samuel Jackson did in "Pulp Fiction" (which I didn't like half as much as this film). Go for it -- but be forewarned!
Rating:
Summary: James Woods is Spectacular
Review: Good evening. Or is that buenos noches? I spent the
last 120 minutes watching the 1998 flick "Another Day
in Paradise". This one came highly recommended as a
Bonnie & Clyde type crime drama. Let me tell you the
truth.
This one captures James Woods at his best. When I
heard several years ago that James was abusive in "real life", I felt there could be a thread
to his motion picture roles. Guess what? There is.
While I thoroughly enjoy crime dramas, "Another Day In
Paradise" is not for everyone. Here's why.
It's loaded with crude profanity, an abundance of
blood, extreme violence, heavy smoking and drinking,
streamlined drugs, death, murder, emotional and
physical abuse to the point of insanity, raunchy sex,
lots of bullets flying, and gross dialogue and camera
pans that definitely make this a...a...a (let's say)
unique film.
Woods gets a 10. His girlfriend (Melanie Griffith)
gets a 9.5. Their sidekicks Vincent Kartheiser and
Natasha Gregson Wagner get 8's. It is billed as a
Bonnie and Clyde for the '90s. It plays out as a
deranged journey into merciless crime...moral
decadence and a heartless joy ride. That's why I give
it a "10"!!!
A 10, you say? Yes! Simply because if you like this
type of film, it is a solid 10. If you don't, I
strongly recommend you not view it, nor give yourself
an opportunity to rate it. It is not as extreme as
"Natural Born Killers" by any means, but Woods'
satanic role is one worth watching. The only other
person that could have played his role would have been
Jack Nicholson (that says a lot).
Trust me...this one is either a 10 or a 0...nothing
inbetween.
The DVD version contains both the Theatrical and
Director's Cut. I watched the theatrical (which this
review is based upon). I'm assuming the other side is
even more...??? (think about it).
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