Two Days in the Valley Review

`The Valley` is that part of greater Los Angeles situated east of the Hollywood hills, and, during the 48 hours in which writer-director John Herzfeld`s often suspenseful film, Two Days In The Valley is set, there`s a lot going on. For starters, Woods - James Spader - a cool killer, has hired the amusingly named Dosmo Pizzo - Danny Aiello - to partner him in a murder. The deed is done, but Dosmo discovers he`s to be the next victim - he hides out in the opulent home of Allan Hopper - Greg Cruttwell - an overbearing British art dealer whose putupon secretary, Glenn Headly, is rather attracted to Dosmo. Meanwhile vice cop Taylor - Eric Stoltz - and his burnt-out racist partner Strayer - Jeff Daniels - get involved with the murder, as does homicide cop Keith Carradine. Then there`s Hopper`s half-sister, Marsha Mason, a sympathetic nurse, and Teddy Peppers - Paul Mazursky - a suicidal TV director, and the slinky Helga - Charlize Theron - Woods` not too particular girlfriend. Over two days, the lives of these characters dramatically intersect.... Though a bit too bloody at times, Two Days In The Valley is a pretty successful debut feature from Herzfeld, one in which, Altman-like, he skilfully juggles an ensemble of characters, always keeping the audience in suspense and anticipation. The attractive widescreen photography by Oliver Woods gives the film an expansive feeling, and the well-drawn characters, most of whom are given very human foibles, make for interesting company. No masterpiece, this, but a generally satisfying entertainment.