2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY (1996) 48 hours of life, death, and a bad hairpiece in San Fernando Valley

A detailed description of 2 DAYS IN THE VALLEY would take at least two days, yet a brief synopsis – chaotic and intersecting goings-on in an L.A.-based, comedic crime drama featuring a murderous insurance scam perpetrated by sadistic double-crossers; a dog-hating, love-struck hit man; a snotty, kidney stone-wracked art dealer; a washed-up, suicidal screenwriter, a grungy, deranged vice cop partnered with an earnest rookie – does it no justice. Credit sharp writing and a cool cast headed by the under-appreciated Danny Aiello as Dosmo Pizzo, the most inept and tenuously toupeed hit man you'll ever saw on film; Glenne Headley as his loopy-wise hostage-turned-girlfriend, and James Spader as a very bad dude with a stopwatch. A raft of other terrific actors round out the large cast, including Marsha Mason, Eric Stolz, Jeff Daniels, Keith Carradine, Louise Fletcher, Paul Mazursky, pre-Desperate Housewife Terri Hatcher, and in only her second big screen appearance – and it's a lulu! – luscious Charlize Theron. Each inhabits his or her character's skin with gusto. Cool music, too