2 Days in the Valley

REVIEW
Of the many post-Quentin Tarantino hipper-than-thou, comedic, violent, pulse-racing, multicharacter, noir criminal saga/thrillers, the inventive and often extremely funny 2 Days in the Valley is one of the most entertaining. Casting a cynical eye on a cold-blooded world and containing unpredictable twists that we've come to expect from good mysteries, the story begins as hired guns Aiello and Spader finalize a hit. Only Spader attempts to kill his partner and frame him for the murder. Barely escaping and on the run, Aiello hides out in the luxurious Valley home of a pompous art dealer. Meanwhile, Spader must return to the scene of the crime when his fee is locked away in the house, which is by now crawling with police -- including Daniels and Stoltz. 2 Days in the Valley takes gleeful delight in its originality -- a zestful blend of Philip Marlowe glibness and contemporary inter-genre teasing. This is two days well spent no matter which side of the gun you're on.