The other day, I saw just a few scenes from Another Day in Paradise (1998, with James Woods and Melanie Griffith) and was struck by the similarities to Pulp Fiction (1994). More than similarities, the things I noticed were so obvious that they seemed deliberate, like nods to the other film. In the little bit that I saw, there was even a reference to “kahuna.” I haven’t found anything about this online and am wondering if I haven’t looked enough or maybe it’s just me. Anyone else notice this?
I’m not familiar with that film but there was a glut of Pulp Fiction/Tarantino copycats in the late 90s. Titles that immediately spring to mind are Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead, Go, Two Days in the Valley, Boondock Saints, Guy Ritchie’s entire filmography, …
Killing Them Softly, 2012, had the PF feel, highly recommended.
I haven’t seen “Another Day in Paradise” but “Kahuna” was a fairly common term even here in Ohio. It was popularized by the teen beach movies.
That said yes, ADiP was indeed part of that spate of crime dramas playing off the success of Tarantino. I’d note the plot has little similarity to Pulp Fiction. It’s a crime “family” gone bad film, much more similar to the semi-factual At Close Range from 1986. It was based off a 1997 novel that was likely optioned so rapidly precisely because it fit perfectly into that genre.
It was directed by the somewhat skeezy auteur Larry Clark, which gave it a minor cult cachet.
Yes, I know that similar films were made around that time and that the word kahuna predates Tarantino’s film. I recall hearing similar music, too (guitar reminiscent of closing theme of Pulp Fiction). Maybe several coincidences came together in the couple of minutes that I spent watching the other film. Honestly, I thought Tarantino had copied parts of it until I saw that his film was made first. Thanks for the replies!
is that the one with melanie Griffith and a teenage couple who has a baby coming and they get in a feud with a skinhead type of gang ?
there’s one funny as hell scene in that movie
James woods character is owed some money by this rich guy so he goes to the guys house and hears gunshots pulls out his and walks through the hall sees the guy tied up and some gangster type pointing a gun at him so they draw on each other and in perfect timing say "who the hell are you and this fuck owes me money " he thinks woods is going to save him but they both end up threathing him until woods remembers there’s a wall safe … but he doesn’t know the code so they both act like there going to mess him up and he gives up the code … and they split the money in the safe and woods gets a little more "to forget him and anyone else was ever there " the guy s pissing his pants because as soon as woods is out the door there’s 2 more shots and screaming wods meanwhile juts keeps non chalantly strolling on out putting on his sunglasses to drive off
I think the tied up guy was a stand up comedy guy because he was doing little things to be funny while it played out …