Two Days In The Valley DVD

More Images

Two Days In The Valley DVD > Reviews > Two Hours in the Armchair

Production Year: 1996 - Comedy - Director: John Herzfeld - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over more

2 offers from £2.55 to £7.97

Overall user rating Two Days In The Valley DVD 1 review | Write a review | Add product to list

L.A.'s much-vilified San Fernando Valley is the setting for the chaotic goings-on in this multi-plotted comedic thriller featuring a murderous insurance scam perpetrated by...
more...sadistic double-crossers, a bumbling, love-struck hit man, a kidnapped, gallstone-suffering art dealer, a washed-up, suicidal screenwriter, a pair of burnt-out undercover cops, and one of the best catfights ever filmed. Guilty fun.





Please wait ....
Rate this product:  
 
All Two Days In The Valley DVD reviews
Two Hours in the Armchair
A review by pesky33 on Two Days In The Valley DVD
April 27th, 2004


Author's product rating:   Two Days In The Valley DVD - rated by pesky33

Did you enjoy it? Liked it 
Story Good 
Characters / Performances Good 
Special Effects Standard 
How does it compare to similar films? Good 

Advantages: enjoyable, amusing, well acted, good twists
Disadvantages: not the most original of ideas

Recommend to potential buyers: yes 

Full review
This film is about the passage of time, and the unrealised importance of time itself; the fact that the film title has the words ‘two days’ in it should be enough of a clue, but just in case it isn’t, the tagline is “You have one minute to decide the rest of your life”.

I’d forgotten all about this film until chatting to my Dad the other day – he said he and his friend had been watching it the other night, and he’d forgotten how beautiful Charlize Theron was in it. “What the Charlize Theron who just won an Oscar?” I asked, to which Ian answered, “No, the other one,” in an unbecoming sarcastic fashion.

I kind of remembered it being a decent crime film, and looking at the back of the box confirmed this, but I couldn’t actually remember much else about it. I borrowed it (after much bargaining with dad to lend him “Pirates of the Caribbean”) re-watched it, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually the film I’d seen, really enjoyed, and then forgotten its name.

**The plot**

There are about five different plot threads going on at once, which all (unsurprisingly) tie up during the course of the film; two hitmen break into the house of an athlete and murder her husband, a washed-up director walks his dog and decides to commit suicide, a business man with a mousy secretary is recovering from bad kidney stones, a nurse goes to visit the grave of an old friend, and two policemen try and bust a Vietnamese massage parlour.

To explain exactly what happens would ruin the whole film, as it pivots around the varying twists each thread of the story takes. Hopefully it’s no spoiler to tell you that this is not your average crime film – it mixes its drama with dark humour, physical comedy and slight farce.

**Was it any good?**

Thankfully, I’d remembered correctly that this is a decent film. The writer/director, John Herzfeld, has done a great job of getting top class performances from this superb ensemble cast. I guarantee you’ll recognise more than 50% of the acting talent, and spend the next week muttering, “Where have I seen him before?” about at least one of them.

The storyline is easy to follow, despite all the twists and turns. You do have to suspend your disbelief a little bit at the amazing coincidences that occur; for example, and trying not to ruin the plot, the nurse and the businessman are brother and sister. Fortunately the whole film has such a humorous edge, that it’s not irritating.

James Spader, as usual, plays a fantastically cruel villain, playing everyone off against each other to get what he wants. His speech with a stopwatch to his victims prior to killing them may be influenced a little by Jules in Pulp Fiction quoting the bible, but at least it fits in with the whole theme of time.

Of course, one could argue that the whole genre of crime comedy owes a huge debt to Tarantino, and perhaps this more than any other film wears this influence proudly. People are ruthless towards each other, whilst cracking jokes, and whilst it may not be the most original film, at least it succeeds in entertaining, and keeping the viewer guessing.
 


Pictures for the review
Display pictures


Picture 31479 tb
James Spader and Charlize theron

Picture 31480 tb
Write your own review




More details
Soundtrack Average 
How does it compare to others by the same director? Not applicable 
Value for Money  
What format are you reviewing?  

Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision?
Rating guidelines

   

Comments on this review
More options
All Two Days In The Valley DVD reviews

Compare prices for Two Days In The Valley DVD

2 out of 2 offers for Two Days In The Valley DVD   sorted by Price  
Two Days In The Valley [1996] Two Days In The Valley [1996]
Release Date: 2001-11-19, Rating Suitable for 18 years and over,
£ 2.55 Amazon Marketplace

Postage & PackagingCheck Site.
AvailabilityUsually dispatched within 2 working days...
Amazon Marketplace

Products you might be interested in
Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 1 To 7 (Box Set)Only Fools And Horses - The Complete Series 1 To 7 (Box Set)

Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance

 18 reviews

Buy now for only £ 55.49

Laurel And Hardy (Box Set)Laurel And Hardy (Box Set)

Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal

 3 reviews

Buy now for only £ 73.95

Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps - Series 1-6 - Complete DVDTwo Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps - Series 1-6 - Complete DVD

Comedy - Director: Gareth Carrivick - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over

 19 reviews

Buy now for only £ 33.97

Norman Wisdom (Box Set)Norman Wisdom (Box Set)

Production Year: 1953 - Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal

This product has not yet been reviewed. Rate it now

Buy now for only £ 19.99

Friends - Series 1-10 - Complete (Box Set)Friends - Series 1-10 - Complete (Box Set)

Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over

 28 reviews

Buy now for only £ 95.00

Auf Wiedersehen Pet - The Complete Series 1 And 2 DVDAuf Wiedersehen Pet - The Complete Series 1 And 2 DVD

Production Year: 1983 - Comedy - Director: Roger Bamford, Baz Taylor - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over

 1 review

Buy now for only £ 44.85




Are you the manufacturer / provider of Two Days In The Valley DVD? Click here