Woods impresses in 'Paradise'

Two years ago director Larry Clark shocked America with his mediocre exploration of New York youth, "Kids." Clark seemed more concerned with shocking than telling a coherant story in his debut, but in his sophomore effort, "Another Day in Paradise," Clark's visual acumen and his storytelling ability come alive.

"Another Day in Paradise" chronicles the lives of two heroin-addicted thieves, Mel (James Woods) and Sid (Melanie Griffith), who take two teenagers, Bobbie (Vincent Kartheiser) and Rosie (Natash Gregson Wagner), under their wing. After Mel saves Bobbie's life - Bobbie botches a robbery and gets beaten by a security guard who he accidentally kills - with a little TLC and heroin, he decides he might be able to use Bobbie in a burglary.

Courtesy of Trimark Pictures James Woods and Melanie Griffith star in "Another Day in Paradise."

Along the way, Mel, Sid, Bobbie and Rosie become a family, embarking on shopping sprees, nights on the town and drug wholesaling.

The dynamic between Woods, Griffith, Kartheiser and Gregson Wagner never falters, as the four actors bring life to these characters, instead of reducing them to stereotypes. Woods refuses to create a one dimensional representation that a lesser actor might have of Mel. Mel knows that one day his heroin addiction is going to bring him and Sid down, but does nothing to get from under it. In Bobbie, Mel has found the son he and Sid can't have, and he delights in teaching him about being a man.

Sid too finds a daughter in Rosie, who is pregnant with the baby that Sid can't have. The pair delight in buying clothes and doing drugs (Sid shooting heroin and Rosie snorthing meth because she fears the needle) as they form an instant bond.

As things start to come undone, though, the happy family turns dysfunctional as Mel slips into a drug and alcohol induced rage. This is compounded when the content foursome blow a wholesale drug deal to a group of Nazi bikers, who Mel insists on selling to despite the fact that he's Jewish.

Larry Clark has a real eye for detail, and manages tell the story with an intensity rarely seen in film. His perchance for the gruesome only helps this movie that gets inside the characters and their addictions and tendencies towards violence.

Clark doesn't glamorize or judge the characters, but rather lets their story unfold before the camera. It's easy to realize that theirs isn't a pretty story, but Clark manages to find both the beauty and ugliness in their rise and fall.

Clark is aided by the incredible performances by his primary cast. The extraordinarily talented Woods bounces back from October's "John Carpenter's Vampires," and gives one of, if not the, best performance of his career. Woods never misses a beat, conveying both Mel's evil and desperation. Though there was no chance that he'd been nominated, Woods deserved an Oscar nomination for this movie.

Griffith has also never been better, but that's not saying too much. It's a positive step to see her walking on the dark side for a change - something we haven't seen since "Body Double."

Kartheiser switches gears from the kids' movies he has been doing ("Masterminds," "Indian in the Cupboard") and shines in "Another Day in Paradise." His performance is complemented by Gregson Wagner's turn as his girlfriend. The two have more romantic chemistry than Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, while maintaining the grit required for their roles.

This movie isn't flawless, however. Griffith is not a great actress and never will be. Despite the overall strength of her performance, she slips quite noticably at times. Also, for a pair of long term heroin addicts Woods and Griffith look terrific. They have none of the physical symptoms that would accompany their substance abuse problem. While this doesn't derail the story in any way, it does take from the film's authenticity.

Still, "Another Day in Paradise" ranks with the best films of 1998, and ranks only behind "Out of Sight" and "A Simple Plan" for the best crime film of the year. With its wonderful cast, direction and script, "Another Day in Paradise" is a "Bonnie and Clyde" for the '90s.

Thursday at the Michigan Theater, 7 p.m.

Another Day in Paradise

REVIEW

04-13-99