Roger Ebert Called the End of This Forgotten, New-to Paramount+ Charlize Theron Neo-Noir Thriller “Ingenious”

In the mid-’90s, Quentin Tarantino redefined the crime genre with an eclectic mix of colorful characters, shocking violence, and hip dialogue with Pulp Fiction. As a result, major Hollywood studios were eager to cash in on dark but whimsical ensemble pictures, hoping to turn Tarantino’s formula into a recipe for success both financially and culturally. John Herzfeld’s 2 Days in the Valley was one of those films that tried to capitalize on the new cinematic craze, with mixed results.

As a dark comedy with neo-noir elements, 2 Days in the Valley attempts to pull together a string of various Los Angeles personalities within the context of a botched contract kill. The narrative is a whirlwind of perspectives, featuring veteran character actors Danny Aiello, Marsha Mason, and Paul Mazursky alongside Teri Hatcher, James Spader, and Jeff Daniels. While the film lacks a consistent tone in the multiple subplots and characters within the larger tale, it features several standout performances, including a then-unknown model-turned-actress named Charlize Theron.

What Is ‘2 Days in the Valley’ About?

The story kicks off in the hills of San Fernando Valley where mafia restaurant owner Dosmo Pizzo (Aiello) works with sociopathic killer Lee Woods (Spader) to take out the ex-husband of a former Olympian Becky Foxx (Hatcher). Upon learning that the job was not due to the ex’s gambling debt, Pizzo is gunned down and almost blown up in a car by Woods as part of the larger plan for the aging killer to take the fall. Surviving with a bulletproof vest, Pizzo takes refuge in the home of a kidney stone-ridden art dealer and takes multiple hostages including the dealer’s insecure assistant (Glenne Headly), his half-sister nurse (Mason), and the nurse’s new friend (Mazursky) who happens to be a suicidal television director.

Meanwhile, Foxx, having been knocked out from the kill, stumbles upon a temperamental veteran cop, Strayer (Daniels), and his younger partner Taylor (Eric Stoltz). While the experienced Stayer has his mind more on his personal issues affecting work, Taylor suspects Foxx has a lot to hide regarding the killings. Soon it’s revealed that Foxx orchestrated the hit and subsequently becomes the target of Woods and his Norwegian girlfriend Helga (Theron).

‘2 Days in the Valley’ Has a Strange Mix of Comedy and Brutal Violence

The murder plot in 2 Days in the Valley slowly fades into the background as the film progresses. Between Dosmo’s failure to complete the hit himself and Taylor’s eagerness to get a murder case after years of bouncing in multiple police divisions, 2 Days in the Valley evolves into an epic character study about people who never reached their potential. It’s full of the interesting character relationship dynamics of Robert Altman’s Short Cuts while depicting a chaotic environment full of violence and deception reminiscent of Tarantino’s work. At the time of its release, legendary critic Roger Ebert praised the film for the “ingenious” way it took the random character subplots and brought them together by the third act.

The fatal flaw of the film is how unevenly Herzfeld’s direction plays out. 2 Days in the Valley constantly has sharp tonal shifts from a mean-spirited crime drama to Altman-esque high-brow comedy. The opening sequence alone goes from the tension-filled moment of Hatcher’s ex about to meet his end at the hands of Spader to the slapstick comedic scene of an art dealer struggling with his kidney stone ailment in the middle of Hollywood. As hard as the film tries to interweave the subplots, most of the character arcs never reach a satisfying conclusion. Save for Aiello’s culinary-loving killer and Mazursky’s director, other characters like Hatcher’s Olympian and Daniels’ angry cop disappear from the picture without any real closure.

Charlize Theron Made Her Film Debut in ‘2 Days in the Valley’

The biggest standout in Valley’s ensemble cast is Theron in her motion picture debut. Reminiscing about her experience during the film’s 20th anniversary screening in 2016, the then 19-year-old was new to the industry when she landed the role of Helga as her third audition in Hollywood. Theron made an impressionable on-screen presence reminiscent of Sharon Stone’s breakout role in Basic Instinct.

Theron’s dedication to the Helga role was evident in her big hotel room brawl scene with Hatcher. Showing that she was not afraid to get down and dirty, Theron got so into the moment that she landed a real punch to Hatcher’s face. She described to W magazine that she saw herself in the scene as “a wild animal” and recalled the accident as a result of her lack of acting experience. In the years since Theron apologized to Hatcher buying her beer, she has emerged as a popular action star in movies such as Atomic Blonde and The Old Guard.

For a Tarantino knock-off, 2 Days in the Valley is full of fun performances and relatable dark humor that makes it passable popcorn entertainment. Much of the best moments come from Aiello and Mazursky’s interactions in the art dealer’s house as well as the chemistry between Spader and Theron. Despite its tonal issues, the film manages one of the better mid-level ensemble crime dramas of the ‘90s.