Another Day In Paradise (1998)

58% of critics liked it
(48 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(7,549 ratings)

Following the acclaim for his 1995 Kids debut, Larry Clark directed this drug-crime drama, set in the Midwest of the '70s. Teen junkie Bobbie (Vincent Kartheiser) shares an apartment with his girlfriend Rosie (Natasha Gregson Wagner) and pal Danny (Branden Williams). Bobbie is injured during an… More Following the acclaim for his 1995 Kids debut, Larry Clark directed this drug-crime drama, set in the Midwest of the '70s. Teen junkie Bobbie (Vincent Kartheiser) shares an apartment with his girlfriend Rosie (Natasha Gregson Wagner) and pal Danny (Branden Williams). Bobbie is injured during an encounter with a security guard but regains his health under the supervision of his dynamic drug-dealer uncle Mel (James Woods). After a successful robbery of speed from an out-of-town doctor's clinic, Bobby, Rosie, Mel, and Mel's melancholy gal Sid (Melanie Griffith) encounter gunplay in a drug deal gone sour. With Mel and Bobby both wounded, they retreat to the headquarters of a gun merchant known as the Reverend (James Otis). When Rosie loses her baby, she slips into a depression and more drug use. Mel recovers and begins planning another heist, but the group is beginning to unravel. Shown at 1998 film fests (Venice, Toronto). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr.
Directed By: Larry Clark
Written By: Stephen Chin, Christopher Landon
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Dec 30, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Jun 5, 2001
Studio: Trimark Pictures

Critic Reviews

Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
A well-executed scene can be followed by another where Clark shows no sense of the tone of which he'd just been in such tight control.
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
Ho-hum.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
It's hard for Another Day in Paradise to bring anything new to the well-worn road traveled by thugs on the run. But director Larry Clark and an energetic cast keep things jumping in this morality tale about the down and dirty.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
As contradictory as it is energetic, the film takes as many risks as its people do and as a result strikes a highly contemporary nerve.
Paul Tatara, CNN.com
This is not a movie for everyone, and I'm not certain that I even want to recommend it with strong reservations.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Another Day in Paradise is one big pleasurable wallow in grunge noir as only Larry Clark could have concocted it.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Director Larry Clark has served up another gritty look at lowlife scum, but the results this time aren't nearly as fascinating.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
This is a strong, powerful movie.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
As close to 'mainstream' as Clarks' ever going to get ... which isn't much.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
With talent like James Woods involved on both sides of the camera, I expect more quality.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
Another Day In Paradise is so generally overwrought that the willing suspension of disbelief is not really an option. On the other hand, you may find yourself caring about the characters.
Manohla Dargis, L.A. Weekly
A routine genre film.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Woods is great as usual.
J.D. Lafrance, Film Threat
James Woods proves yet again why he is consistently one of the best actors working today.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Not bad but not great. I found Vincent Kartheiser & Natasha Gregson Wagner really annoying but James Woods & Melanie Griffith make up for it. Hell of a punch at the end!
Leigh R

What a weird-ass film. But it was better than some movies I've seen.
Dean M

Really sickening of darker group of a drug addicts and bit explicit sex scenes of young junkie couples that filmmaker Larry Clark made including "Bully". (Really disappointed with DVD didn't work with use English substitles properly because that still has shown at the… More
Really sickening of darker group of a drug addicts and bit explicit sex scenes of young junkie couples that filmmaker Larry Clark made including "Bully". (Really disappointed with DVD didn't work with use English substitles properly because that still has shown at the back cover - that gotta be kidding!)
Mike T

Larry Clark's second film is more conventional than his controversial debut (Kids), but it's still intensely watchable and well-made. When walking us through the typical crime-drama routine, this film is interesting, but it is the character dynamics and the dark revelatory… More
Larry Clark's second film is more conventional than his controversial debut (Kids), but it's still intensely watchable and well-made. When walking us through the typical crime-drama routine, this film is interesting, but it is the character dynamics and the dark revelatory moments that stick. Aesthetically it's a sleek picture, infused with Clark's trademark documentary-style photography. The script has minor issues, especially with its ending, but the performances are what stand out and make it so exceedingly powerful. James Woods got all the praise from critics, but it also features top-notch acting from Vincent Kartheiser, Natasha Gregson Wagner and Melanie Griffith. It's a film that consumes its audience throughout the duration of its runtime, and leaves a lasting impression despite its shortcomings. Very well-directed by Larry Clark.
Christopher B

The one Larry Clark movie that it's a stretch to call it kiddie porn. Though it's nothing special at all, a generic story of a bunch of small time criminals with the leaders being mother and father figures to the younger members, it's still very watchable and at… More
The one Larry Clark movie that it's a stretch to call it kiddie porn. Though it's nothing special at all, a generic story of a bunch of small time criminals with the leaders being mother and father figures to the younger members, it's still very watchable and at moments, shocking. I was having a very bad year at TIFF when I saw this one, so I probably give it more praise than it deserves, but at least it wasn't boring.