Directed by Larry Clark
Author of orig. work: Eddie Little
Starring Melanie Griffith, James Woods
Screened at the 46th Sydney Film Festival
To Eugene
I suppose you've been wondering where the review for Another Day In Paradise has been. Here it is, a letter of apology with the occasional critical notice tied in neatly. The review is a public exercise, the new democratic writing (any chimp with a pencil can do it). Perhaps a glimpse into the life of this man-o-letters will suffice. Oh yes, the film. James Woods and his shit-eatin' grin...70s and heroin, at least I think it was the seventies...an easy on the ears soundtrack...kids and extended sex scenes...Larry Clark is a naughty man...Melanie Griffith takes a jab at serious acting by giving her usual brainless performance in a movie where that's an asset...the usual violence...I walked out after twenty minutes. Yes, a mutinous critic. Just because it's free doesn't mean it's tolerable. Perhaps it was just circumstance. Let me digress within the acceptable space of a paragraph.
I'd just seen The Hole and been very impressed, yet that initial excitement was ever so slightly spoilt by the mindless chatter of some festival "regulars" in the men's room and the lack of an audience for the film. There are plenty of ordinary films in the festival...why don't they get put on at 10 o'clock in the fucking morning. The Hole deserves an afternoon slot so at least some interested students (?) can see it. By the time ADIP began, the State was almost full. Why? This film will most likely get a decent cinema release. The festival and it's patrons, who seem to call the suspicious shots, should support the one-off's like The Hole and Genghis Blues. I have a lurking suspicion that many subscribers suffer through the "weird stuff" in silent submission in eager anticipation for warmed-up mainstream scraps deciduously descending from the dusty top shelf.
Anyways...the film began and within minutes I was dreaming of a stealthy escape from the cinema. Just like the opening teen sex scene in Kids, Clark uses another shocker to grab your attention. Death by screwdriver...how unique. In Kids the opening scene gave us the only real insight the film had to offer. Clark's style is monotonous, empty and deadening; I didn't expect ADIP to get any better from the cliched run-through I got in the opening. The audience seemed to be enjoying it. A particularly dopey couple were giggling every time Woods opened his mouth...some of his lines were good, but every single word!...the cult of James Woods? It could happen. And then it did.
A whispered word to those who dared to stay behind. Some deft footwork. The rather inspiring walk past those seated and assumed suffering. Past the well trained sentry of the State. Up the marble steps. Past the pastries. More guards. Drop off the ticket. Safe!
Went to see The Phantom Menace again instead. Fell to bits completely on second viewing. I was obviously blinded by excitement on first viewing. I still think we should leave up my first review. Perhaps a month down the line I can write another "Confession of a Fan" piece. Flanked by deception, merchandise and mediocrity. What's a poor boy to do?
adam rivett
comments? email the author
read another negative review of Another Day in Paradise by Natalia Laban
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