2 Days in the Valley (1996)

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Siskoid
Charlize Theron's first speaking role (and yet all the websites insist on calling this her first onscreen nudity), 2 Days in the Valley seems to have the distinction of being constantly called-out for being a rip-off of Pulp Fiction. Sounds like a complaint that was made at the time and has become "received wisdom". I don't see it. While the success of Tarantino's opus got a certain genre of film (neonoir with a quirky streak) greenlit, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a rip-off. In fact, it has a lot more in common with Elmore Leonard than it does QT. A fiasco-laden, convoluted plot in which various characters stumble into one another over the course of a crime plot. It's got a pretty great cast. Charlize is already a star. Jeff Daniels is great, but one sore point is that his story tapers off and doesn't really amount to anything. Danny Aiello is properly the star of the show and gives a very fun performance. And I found some joy in the plot that reveals itself as it goes along. A nice little surprise with memorable characters and locations, give or take the dangling plot thread. 4 years 7 months ago