2 Days in the Valley

Amazon.com

Overlooked in theaters but gaining a modest cult following in video release, writer-director John Herzfeld's underrated 2 Days in the Valley has a lot going for it, not the least being a variety of interesting characters played by a superb ensemble cast. The complex plot centers on a mild-mannered hit man (Danny Aiello) who is hired by an icy killer (James Spader) to assist him on his latest job. Eric Stoltz and Jeff Daniels play the vice cops who stumble on the murder scene. Their investigation leads to a colorful array of San Fernando Valley denizens, including a has-been director (played by director Paul Mazursky) and a snobbish art dealer (Greg Cruttwell) whose lives come together in unexpected and interesting ways. Emphasizing characters that consistently hold our attention with humor and poignant desire, this clever thriller fits nicely into the eccentric category of "Only in California." --Jeff Shannon

Description

A cold-hearted killer, a crook who cooks, a drop-dead blonde and a couple of cops are looking for sex, looking for money, looking to stay alive. But all of them are looking to get out of the valley and they've got just two days to do it.

Customer Reviews:

Captures the Essence of the Valley.......2007-09-05

I loved this movie not for the plot or the familiar landmarks, but for nailing the essence of the valley - a place where people from all walks of life come together, all of them strange. The scene in the park where the failed movie producer runs into an old colleague happens all the time. The SFV tried to secede from LA not too long ago, but in fact it left the planet long before that. It's a place of has-beens and never-was's, of second chances and not quite getting there. For example, in the movie, the big score was $30,000 plus life insurance, not the millions in jewels people normally kill for. The only cop who tries to do it by the book is later kicked off the force for being deranged. I happen to like it here, I guess that says something about me, and I think the movie captures the campy quirkiness of the place perfectly, right down to the air conditioner breaking on the hottest day of the year.

Over-the-Top Parody of Crime Film Archetypes & Los Angeles Culture........2007-05-11

"2 Days in the Valley" is a comedic crime flick that follows the tortuous entanglements of 10 Los Angelinos who, in the space of 2 days, are inadvertently brought together by a murder-for-profit plot. Sangfroid Lee (James Spader) hires has-been hit man Dosmo (Danny Aiello) to assist in a murder, with plans to dispose of Dosmo afterward and collect on an insurance payoff with his bombshell partner in crime Helga (Charlize Theron). Meanwhile, a failed film director at the end of his tether, Teddy (Paul Mazursky) stumbles upon a kindly nurse named Audrey (Marsha Mason) as he looks for someone to adopt his dog before he commits suicide. Audrey's obnoxious art dealer brother Allan (Greg Cruttwell) and his mousy personal assistant Susan (Glenn Headly) are held hostage by Dosmo as he evades Lee. And burned-out cop Alvin (Jeff Daniels) and his ambitious partner Wes (Eric Stoltz) come upon the murder scene while cruising to bust massage parlors.

"2 Days in the Valley" isn't what I would normally call a "black comedy". This movie makes fun of murder, sociopaths, police, and misery in general. But it's not subtle or clever. It's an over-the-top parody of crime film archetypes and Hollywood players. It's often too simplistic and in-your-face for my taste, but it has some funny moments. Some members of the audience will undoubtedly enjoy the knock-down drag-out brawl between Teri Hatcher and Charlize Theron, as Becky and Helga. But you have to like your catfights very stagey. If you're looking for something light and overstated, "2 Days in the Valley" might fit the bill. The DVD (HBO 1997) includes a trailer (3 min) and text bios and filmographies for 11 cast members and writer/director John Herzfeld. Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish. Dubbing available in French.

Great flick.......2007-02-04

The lives of several strange characters intersect in John Herzfeld's quirky crime comedy. A depressed has-been director (Paul Mazursky), an arrogant art dealer and his long-suffering assistant, a loser hit man (Danny Aiello), a cold assassin (James Spader) and his girlfriend (Charlize Theron), all with several cops (Keith Carradine, Eric Stoltz and Jeff Daniels) in their pursuit, get tangled up in a murderous insurance scam.

I'll mention the fine acting by Glenne Headley and Marsha Mason as none of the other reviewers have mentioned them, but the entire cast was particularly good. Since this was a comedy, I think it's worth pointing out several of the inside jokes. Most obviously, Paul Mazursky's character is a down-and-out director with one Emmy for a made-for-television movie and, after that, the world's biggest flop. Of course Mazursky is a quite excellent screenwriter and director. Less obviously, Danny Aiello's down on his luck hitman has been working in a pizza parlor. Aiello of course played the owner of the pizza parlor in Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing." [...]

That's right, and at the end of the film we're let into the fact that the cop has been given 48 hours to turn in his badge because the department has determined that he has been acting like a total jerk to all the citizens he's come in contact with, and we've just seen his last day on the job. I'm not usually very generous with my ratings, but I'll round 4.5 up to 5 for this one. Oh, and the score

You have to been there........2007-01-06

This is Los Angeles. Being a native of more than a half a century I feel that I have some credence. This movie is funny as hell. It satarizes the many foibles of the west coast culture and may seem a little strange to folks who did not grow up here. But, it rules. Enjoy the pratfalls, the unrealistic scenes, it's all possible in L.A.

PULP FICTION jr........2006-12-14

More like ***1/2 for the movie. I would have given 4 stars had the disc had some extras, but all that's on it are cast bios and original theatrical trailer.

There is no doubt that this movie has an incredible cast Danny Aiello ('Do The Right Thing'), Jeff Daniels ('Dumb And Dumber'), Teri Hatcher (TV's 'Desperate Houswives' & Ex-Bond Girl), Glenne Headly ('Mortal Thoughts'), Peter Horton (TV's 'thirtysomething'), legend Marsha Mason ('The Goodbye Girl'), Paul Mazursky (excellent actor AND director), James Spader ('Wall Street' & 'Sex, Lies & Videotape'), Eric Stoltz (also in 'Pulp Fiction'), and Charlize Theron ('Monster').

This is an awesome cast and everyone does a great job with their characters. Aiello is hilarious as a dog-fearing hitman, Spader is excellent as his heartless "partner", Hatcher is competent as an ex-professional skiier, Glenne Headley is very believable as a passive secretary who seems to be the only one who can get along w/Aiello's character, Mazursky probably shows the most depth as a tortured Hollywood director who has lost his touch and recognition, Stoltz is likeable as a good-hearted vice cop, briton Gregg Cruttwell meshes well with his character as a spoiled art-dealer, Charlize Theron makes her debut (not counting uncredited role in CoCIII) here, and is very good and very hot. Most interesting is Jeff Daniels as the "bad" cop (more like a jerk), as he is mostly known for his good-guy roles and does a superb job here.

The reason I say Pulp Fiction jr., is because of the many intersecting storylines throughout the movie, the all-star cast, use of music throughout, and general "feel". There's double-crosses, triple-crosses and many storylines that keep the viewer entertained for 105 minutes. I'm certainly not ripping on it, it's just that after Fiction came out in 1994 and took the world by storm, it was inevitable that many other similar movies would follow. As it were, this is certainly one of the better ones.

Like I said above, would have given 4 stars it the DVD had some extras, but the package itself is lame. There is a VERY HOT scene w/Theron & Spader and director/writer John Herzfeld ('15 Minutes'), wrote a very solid/dense script with very little holes and his directing ability is excellent here, as well. Corraling these many all-stars can be a tough thing to do (see: Oceans 13).

Adding to the vibe of the movie are two excellent songs that really moved me: "Gone For Good" by Morphine and "Nobody Knows Me" by Lyle Lovett. These fit the movie perfectly and really add a deeper layer to the events that unfold before you.

If you haven't seen this movie than at least rent it, and when a better collector's edition comes out, then definitely pick it up to own. (Also if you can find the S/T, then pick that one up, too, as the whole album is very good from top to bottom).

Average customer rating:

2 Days In The Valley
Starring: Danny Aiello , Greg Cruttwell , Jeff Daniels , Teri Hatcher , and Glenne Headly
Director: John Herzfeld
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000VDDDVY
Release Date: 2007-11-20

Average customer rating:

Captures the Essence of the Valley
Over-the-Top Parody of Crime Film Archetypes & Los Angeles Culture.
Great flick
You have to been there.
PULP FICTION jr.

2 Days in the Valley [Region 2]
Starring: Danny Aiello , Greg Cruttwell , Jeff Daniels , Teri Hatcher , and Glenne Headly
Director: John Herzfeld
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00005RRHF

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