Another Day in Paradise (1998)

Director:

Larry Clark

Writers:

Eddie Little (book)
Christopher B. Landon (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1999 (Austria)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

We live at the abyss.

Plot:

In the hope of a big score, two junkie couples team up to commit various drug robberies which go disastrously wrong leading to dissent, violence and murder.

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Drugs | Addict | Violence | Junkie

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

James Woods	...	Mel
Melanie Griffith	...	Sid
Vincent Kartheiser	...	Bobbie
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Rosie
James Otis	...	Reverend
Branden Williams	...	Danny
Brent Briscoe	...	Clem
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Ty
Paul Hipp	...	Richard Johnson
Kim Flowers	...	Bonnie Johnson
John Gatins	...	Phil
Ryan Donahue	...	Barry
Christopher Doyle	...	Conan
Dick Hancock	...	Breather
Pamela Gordon	...	Waitress
Jay Leggett	...	Security Guard
Michael Jeffrey Woods	...	Big Man
Karen Sheperd	...	Big Man's Wife (as Karen Lee Sheperd)
Mitchell Orr	...	Big Man's Boy (as Mitchell Orr Jr.)
Leo Fitzpatrick	...	Guard at Reverend's Gate
Simon Williams	...	Maitre d'
Steve Connell	...	Gas Station Attendant (as Steven Gerard Connell)
Clarence Carter	...	Himself
Roosevelt Bitten	...	Band Member
Greg Dalton	...	Band Member
Donald Hayes	...	Band Member
Ishma Israel	...	Band Member
Maurice James	...	Band Member
Eddie Lott	...	Band Member
Will Miller	...	Band Member
Darryl Richards	...	Band Member
Isaac Smith	...	Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Jewels (uncredited)

Directed by
Larry Clark

Writing credits
Eddie Little		(book)
Christopher B. Landon		(written by) and
Stephen Chin		(written by)

Produced by
Stephen Chin	....	producer
Larry Clark	....	producer
Scott Shiffman	....	co-producer
James Woods	....	producer

Cinematography by
Eric Alan Edwards		(as Eric Edwards)

Film Editing by
Luis Colina

Casting by
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Aaron Osborne

Art Direction by
Erin Cochran

Set Decoration by
Michele Munoz		(as Michelle Munoz)

Costume Design by
Kathryn Morrison

Makeup Department
Andre Blaise	....	key hair stylist
Elisabeth Fry	....	key makeup artist (as Elisabeth Deitrich Fry)
Elisabeth Fry	....	special makeup effects artist (as Elisabeth Deitrich Fry)
Maggie Fung	....	makeup artist
Maggie Myer	....	swing
Christopher Shihar	....	additional hair stylist
Judy Yonemoto	....	makeup artist
Cass McClure	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Brad Arensman	....	post-production supervisor
Paul Codiga	....	assistant production manager
Gina Fortunato	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tia Ardran	....	second assistant director
Louis Shaw Milito	....	first assistant director (as Louis Milito)
Wendy Palmer	....	second second assistant director
Deandre 'Silky' Russell	....	additional second second assistant director

Art Department
Daniel Beralas	....	painter
Ray Brooks	....	set dressing
John L. Chaldu	....	set dresser (as John Chaldu)
Gill Gayle	....	lead man
Cara T. Hoepner	....	set designer (as Cara Hoepner)
Robyn B. Holmes	....	buyer (as Robyn Holmes)
Lorri Jakabuv	....	assistant property master
Teri Jo Kelley	....	lead scenic (as Teri Jo Kelly)
Steve Krynicki	....	scenic artist
Christopher Larsen	....	swing gang
Eduardo Madrigal	....	swing gang
Mike Marco	....	propmaker
Juan Martinez	....	laborer
Anthony McNerney	....	general foreman (as Tony McNearny)
Robert McNerney	....	propmaker (as Robert McNearny)
Brian Mertens	....	propmaker
John Mertens	....	propmaker
Drew Morgan	....	carpenter
Matthew Nelson	....	art department coordinator
Angela O'Neill	....	property master
Cesar Orozco	....	propmaker
Jonathan Ortega	....	labor foreman
William P. Paine	....	lead man (as William Paine)
David Price	....	construction
Cristi Ricker	....	production assistant: art department
Patrick Sproule	....	swing gang
Mike Starns	....	set dressing
Chris Steele	....	set dresser
Ron Strathman	....	construction coordinator
Brian Swanson	....	propmaker
Sarah Valentine	....	construction estimator
Dominic Varady	....	propmaker
Mike West	....	propmaker
Angela M. Whiting	....	assistant property master (as Angela Whitting)
Monica Wynveldt	....	production assistant: art department
Steve Young	....	painter

Sound Department
Cesar Aguirre	....	utility sound technician
Paul Aulicino	....	sound effects editor
John Brasher	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lance Brown	....	supervising sound editor
Patrick Cicero	....	apprentice sound editor
Geoff Clark	....	sound services manager
Bradley Clouse	....	first assistant sound editor
Joe Divitale	....	dialog editor (as Joseph Divitale)
Bruce Fortune	....	supervising sound editor
Ricardo Francia	....	assistant sound editor (as Ricardo A. Francia Jr.)
Eric Hoeschen	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marty Hutcherson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlos Isais	....	sound recordist
Lance Laurienzo	....	dialog editor
Rick MacLane	....	sound engineer
Charlie McGovern	....	sound recordist
Carey Milbradt	....	sound editor
Steve Nelson	....	sound effects editor
Jay Nierenberg	....	sound effects editor
Scott Peets	....	remote recording
John Polito	....	mastering
Doug Reed	....	foley artist
Art Rochester	....	production sound mixer
Kim Secrist	....	sound effects editor
Mike Shuman	....	apprentice sound editor
Brian Smith	....	adr mixer
Mimi Starrett	....	sound services manager
Cameron Steenhagen	....	foley editor
Roger V. Stevenson	....	boom operator (as Rover Stevenson)
Jussi Tegelman	....	foley mixer
Jason Thibault	....	foley mixer
Robert Troy	....	dialog editor
Carl D. Ware	....	apprentice sound editor (as Carl Ware)
Donald L. Warner Jr.	....	dialog editor (as Don Warner)
Aaron D. Weisblatt	....	dialogue editor
James G. Williams	....	sound re-recording mixer (as James Williams)

Special Effects by
Jason Gustafson	....	special effects
Casey Pritchett	....	pyrotechnician
Darrell Pritchett	....	special effects

Stunts
Brian Avery	....	stunts
Rick Barker	....	stunts
Daniel W. Barringer	....	stunts
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts
Tabby Hanson	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunt coordinator
Nancy Thurston	....	stunts
Michael M. Vendrell	....	stunts (as Michael Vendrell)
Nancy Young	....	stunt double: Melanie Griffith

Camera and Electrical Department
David Bodin	....	grip
Marek Bojsza	....	electrician
Scott Browner	....	additional camera operator: "b" camera
Steve Carmer	....	grip
Paul Daley	....	gaffer
Paul Daley	....	gaffer
Mario Davis	....	dolly grip
Glen Deitell	....	first assistant camera
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Richard Elias	....	grip
David Ghegan	....	set lighting technician
Cranston Gobbo	....	key grip
Jarek Gorczycki	....	electrician (as Jarek Gorczki)
Rick Gowing	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Lisa Guerriero	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Lisa 'Tiki' Guerriero)
David Hammett	....	best boy electric
David Holt	....	grip
Brian Kinzey	....	electrician
Weston Lant	....	best boy grip
Jay Levy	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Chuck Linkes	....	electrician
Rob Nelson	....	video assist operator (as Robert Nelson)
Jason Newton	....	grip
Pat Notaro	....	camera loader
Rick Pearmain	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
John Pedone	....	electrician (as John Pedon)
Chris Roundtree	....	grip
Peyton Skelton	....	electrician
Russ St. John	....	grip
R. Michael Stringer	....	grip (as Michael Stringer)
Larry Sushinski	....	electrician (as Larry Susinski)
David Thielhart	....	electrician (as Dave Theilhart)
Mark Vargo	....	additional photographer
Tobin Yelland	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Rich King	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathryn M. Buehler	....	production assistant: wardrobe
Jillian Kreiner	....	costume supervisor
Houston Sams	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Tim Heyen	....	negative cutter
Brett S. McCarthy	....	assistant editor (as Brett McCarthy)
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Paul Petschek	....	additional editor
Charlene Hamer	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Howard Paar	....	music supervisor
Robin Urdang	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Jennifer A. Blum	....	driver: Melanie Griffith
Danny Brooks	....	driver
Dennis Clark	....	driver
Dana Crocker	....	transportation co-captain
Daniel Deprest	....	driver: honeywagon
Jennifer Duclos	....	driver: Clarence Carter
Donna Hall	....	driver: van
Skip Knight	....	driver
Lawren McDonald	....	driver
Tony Reidel	....	driver: production van
Don Tardino	....	transportation coordinator
Jon Tardino	....	driver: van
Thomas Vilardo	....	transportation captain (as Tommy Vilardo)
Derek Wade	....	transportation estimator

Other crew
D. Jeffrey Andrick	....	production financing
Roberto Benko	....	set teacher
Andrea F. Cannistraci	....	production legal services: Bodine and Herwitz
Sherri Cosentino	....	production coordinator (as Sheri Cosentino)
Tad Driscoll	....	production accountant
Maureen Duffy	....	completion guarantee
Meredith Ferguson	....	assistant: Stephen Chin
Jerry Friedman	....	set teacher
Larry 'Lenny' Friedman	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Gillespie	....	set production assistant
Allan Gordon	....	weapons wrangler (as Allen Gordon)
David Hayles	....	set medic
Miles J. Henley	....	assistant locations (as Miles Henley)
Maddy Hill	....	production assistant: location
Andrew Hurwitz	....	production legal services: Bodine and Herwitz
Brian R. Keathley	....	production assistant
Thomas Krueger	....	medic
Robert Lassers	....	set teacher
Pam Leonte	....	script supervisor (as Pamela Leonte)
Ryan Lichterman	....	office production assistant
John Limotte	....	production legal services: Bodine and Herwitz
Ramiro López	....	chef (as Ramiro Lopez)
Casey Mako	....	set production assistant
Maeve Mannion	....	assistant accountant
Nick Mestrundrea	....	craft service (as Nick Mestrandrea)
Ralph B. Meyer	....	location manager (as Ralph Meyer)
Ryan Meyer	....	craft services helper
Victor Ortado	....	assistant accountant
Carter Pickett	....	office production assistant
Benito Romo	....	chef's helper
Paula Schmit	....	completion guarantee
Yosi Sergant	....	assistant: Larry Clark
Ann Marie Sisco	....	assistant production coordinator
Marion Spiegelman	....	completion guarantee
Diana Gray Thompson	....	office production assistant
Jennifer Tobey	....	office production assistant
Gregorio Valadez	....	chef's helper
Bill Davis	....	armorer (uncredited)
David Yang	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Chinese Bookie Pictures

Distributors

• Advanced (Germany)
• Another Day Inc.
• Cine 3 (Argentina)
• Eagle Entertainment (Australia) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (1999) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Manga Films (1999) (Spain) (all media)
• Metrodome Distribution (UK)
• Motion International (Canada)
• Nelonen (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• New Films International
• Opening Distribution (France)
• PlayArte Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Trimark Pictures (North America)
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)

Other Companies

• Axium  payroll services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• D & A Film Cutting  negative cutting
• Film Finance  completion guarantee
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment provided by
• Title House  titles and optical effects

Also Known As:

Paradise (USA) (working title)
Un altro giorno in paradiso (Italy) (Italy) (video title) [it]
Al final del edén (Spain) [es]
Alli mia mera ston paradeiso (Greece) [el]
Another Day in Paradise (France) [fr]
Ein anderer Tag im Paradies (Austria) [de]
Ein neuer Tag im Paradies (Germany) [de]
Kids E os Profissionais (Brazil) [pt]
Paratiisin vangit (Finland) [fi]
Um Dia no Paraíso (Portugal) [pt]
Un autre jour sans paradis (Canada: French title) [fr]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, sexuality, drug use and language.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | USA:R (Certificate #36165) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Chile:18 | France:-16 | Germany:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated (director's cut) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Firestone Boulevard, Norwalk, California, USA

Company:

Chinese Bookie Pictures

Trivia:

The word "fuck" is used 327 times in this 101 minute film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Vincent Kartheiser, alone in a toilet cubicle, climbs into the roof cavity through the overhead access hole. The hand of a crew member can be seen coming up from bottom of frame, giving him a boost.

Quotes:

Bobbie: Are you a doctor, Melvin?
Mel: Yeah. I'm a doctor, shooting you up with heroin. That's right.

Movie Connections:

References "The Flintstones" (1960)

Soundtrack:

I'll Let Nothing Separate Us

Junkies on the Run - DRUGSTORE COWBOY Style...

Another film of the drug/gangster sub-genre, ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE is upper echelon material as far as these pictures go. It is also a sibling to DRUGSTORE COWBOY unintentionally. There are so many similarities because it is impossible to make this type of movie nowadays without being repetitive. No matter. Director Larry Clarke (KIDS, ew!) and main booster James Woods himself dive into that disgusting and sometimes frantically hilarious world of sex, drugs, and driving around. The film works because there are some good characterizations here and people who actually show some concern for each other throughout the haze of it all.

Melanie Griffith plays "Sid", James Woods' girlfriend in the story and delivers some of the finest moments of her career. Not since WORKING GIRL have I seen such a likeable and ballsy portrayal from Griffith, who is a junkie with a knack for mothering the 2 teen runaways and a potent trigger finger when one is needed. The runaways are the children Woods and Griffith parent vicariously through in the most unusual of ways. The kids (Vincent Kartheiser, Natasha Wagner) are a version of Bonnie and Clyde, while the adults resemble a warped Ozzie and Harriett. It all adds up to a group of 4 remembering DRUGSTORE COWBOY. This crew needs drugs and they get them by stealing from pharmacists just as Matt Dillon's crew did.

The setting is the early 1970's I guess, and the music reflects the period well. Funk and blues reign over the film's violent and illegal activities while adding a sense of romance to it. You get that feeling in your heart that it won't last (a la BONNIE AND CLYDE, DRUGSTORE COWBOY). Woods character starts out cynical and wise to the "life", but turns ugly as you figure him to do. The young kids who looked up to him throughout grow tired naturally, but his reluctance to grow old possesses him to keep them around. This is where Melanie Griffith is able to shine. She is a sweet, attractive woman who happens to stick needles in her neck. Nobody's perfect.

James Woods was born to play the creep. He has some great lines in ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE. His stories are funny, his trademarks are constant (booyah!), and his fits are worth the price of admission. He is so good at coming across initially confident, eventually desperate and evil. Woods must have had much faith in director Clarke's abilities and the casting of Natalie Wood's daughter, Natasha is a nice, offbeat touch. This is low-budget, nasty fare, a descendant of the countless druggie flicks of the 70's, 80's and PULP FICTION. It is sometimes amazing to see how low actors will go to capture this wild world of fun and drugs in the dark.

RATING: ***