Another Day in Paradise

Another Day in Paradise

Year: 1998

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Larry Clark

ThrillerCrimeDramaCrime drugs and gangstersViolent crime and drugs

Set on the edge of society, two couples of drug addicts pool their desperate hopes for one big score. Their series of drug‑fueled robberies quickly spiral out of control, sparking betrayal, escalating violence and a trail of murder as the plan unravels in catastrophic failure.

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Timeline & Setting – Another Day in Paradise (1998)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Another Day in Paradise (1998). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1970s

Set in the 1970s Midwest, the film reflects economic hardship and a rough, street-level crime scene. Addiction and narcotics shape the characters’ choices, with heroin and meth driving their improvisations and desperation. The era’s pre-digital detachment amplifies the danger embedded in everyday heists and betrayals.

Location

Midwest college town, flophouse district, rundown motel, Reverend's home

The story unfolds across a gritty Midwest landscape in the 1970s, moving between a college campus, a seedy flophouse, a shabby motel, and the Reverend’s home. The locations emphasize a harsh, transient world where illegal schemes are plotted and executed. The contrast between institutional spaces (college, church) and criminal hideouts heightens the film’s tense mood.

🏚️ Grimy settings 🏫 College environment 🌾 Rural town 🎭 Crime drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:12

Main Characters – Another Day in Paradise (1998)

Meet the key characters of Another Day in Paradise (1998), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bobbie (Vincent Kartheiser)

Teenage methamphetamine addict who escalates from petty vandalism to deadly violence. He is reactive, impulsive, and surprisingly resilient, clinging to Rosie while trying to survive Mel's world. His actions drive the plot's shifts from fledgling theft to a desperate escape.

🔪 Teen Angst 💊 Addiction 🔎 Impulsivity

Mel (James Woods)

A streetwise thief and part-time drug dealer who becomes a reluctant mentor to Bobbie and Rosie. He is calculating, brutal when needed, and fiercely protective of his own operation, tolerating risk as long as the payoff is there. His volatile temper triggers some of the film's most shocking moments.

🎭 Criminal mastermind 🗡️ Violence 💼 Boss

Sid (Melanie Griffith)

Mel's partner and an addict who navigates a dangerous world with pragmatism and a stubborn loyalty to Rosie. She develops a maternal bond with Rosie and Bobbie, and her choices reveal a conflicted balance between affection and self-preservation. Her actions become pivotal in the film's final turn.

💊 Addiction 🧭 Loyalty 👩‍👧 Family bonds

Rosie (Natasha Gregson Wagner)

Bobbie's older girlfriend and fellow addict who becomes pregnant and ultimately dies from an overdose. Her presence anchors the human cost of the criminals' life, and her death triggers a cascade of guilt, fear, and desperation among the others. She forms a brief, compassionate connection with Sid and Bobbie.

🤰 Pregnancy 💊 Addiction 💔 Tragic fate

Jewels (Lou Diamond Phillips)

A flamboyant, ruthless criminal ally who partners with Mel for a robbery. His aggression escalates the tension, and his murder by Bobbie marks a decisive turning point in the plot. He provides color and danger to the film's criminal ecosystem.

🧭 Criminal associate 🔎 Rivalries 🗡️ Violence

Reverend (James Otis)

A preacher and illegal arms dealer who shelters the thieves in exchange for a cut of their loot. His home becomes a staging ground for the gang's activities, highlighting the intersection of faith, crime, and weaponry. He embodies the film's uneasy moral landscape.

🙏 Faith 🛡️ Arms dealing 🏠 Safehouse

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:12

Major Themes – Another Day in Paradise (1998)

Explore the central themes of Another Day in Paradise (1998), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Crime & Survival

Greed and necessity push the characters into escalating criminal acts, where money becomes a motive and a measure of safety. The crew’s heists, double-crosses, and murders reveal how far they will go to protect themselves and their haul. Loyalty is fragile, constantly tested by fear, addiction, and the pursuit of freedom from ruin.

💊 Addiction

Addiction drives almost every decision, trapping characters in cycles of withdrawal, overdose, and dependency. Rosie’s overdose and Sid’s drug-fueled bond with Bobbie and Mel underscore the human costs behind every crime. The film portrays addiction as both a personal flaw and a social danger that erodes trust.

🤝 Loyalty & Betrayal

Relationships are forged and fractured in equal measure as dependence on each other clashes with self-preservation. The group’s violence fractures bonds, culminating in betrayals and evasive deaths. The ending juxtaposes familial-like ties against self-interest, leaving loyalty as a fragile, shifting construct.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:12

Unlock the Full Story of Another Day in Paradise

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Another Day in Paradise Summary

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Another Day in Paradise Summary

Another Day in Paradise Timeline

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Another Day in Paradise Timeline

Another Day in Paradise Spoiler-Free Summary

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Another Day in Paradise Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Another Day in Paradise

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Another Day in Paradise (1998) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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Another Day in Paradise (1998) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow