City by the Sea (2002)

This movie masterpiece is yet another example of why Robert De Niro is the best actor of our generation. You believe in this person, despite the fact that he's not particularly likable. It's a dark film that takes you into the depth of it's angst. It's also a good example of when Hollywood stops manufacturing plastic fluff and uses well developed characterizations to tell a really gripping story. The depth of sadness is palatable and compelling. No glossy sets, no wannabe starlets:- just brilliant acting, excellent casting, sharp direction and a really good script and storyline. This is what a movie should be. Long after other movies are buried and forgotten this gem will still haunt your thoughts. Well worth spending 2 hours on.

Fmovies: Homicide detective Robert De Niro (as Vincent LaMarca) has a skeleton in his closet. Mr. De Niro's father was executed as a baby killer. However, De Niro "turned his life around" and, with help from a law-abiding father figure, became a respectable police officer. Unfortunately, he left his wife and young son on the wrong side of the tracks. Fourteen years later, De Niro's handsome son James Franco (as Joey LaMarca) has become a gaunt Long Beach junkie, with a neglected son of his own. While scoring some junk, Mr. Franco knifes a dealer, in self-defense (this is the film's opening). Then, father De Niro is assigned the task of bringing in his estranged son as a murderer...

If you give "City by the Sea" a chance, it should make a good impression, thanks to the skillfully focused cast and crew. De Niro is particularly good at elevating the story; he keeps everything real. The story is, otherwise, not structurally sound. To give an example (without giving anything away) note that Franco's opening "killing" is hardly a crime. Wouldn't the film's theme have worked better if this was a real, however warranted, passionate murder? This would strengthen the sense of loss/salvation expressed by De Niro and Franco in the final act. There are other puzzling story developments, right up until the final "beach" visit. Director Michael Caton-Jones' near-ending "auto body shop" segment is exciting, though.

******* City by the Sea (2002) Michael Caton-Jones ~ Robert De Niro, James Franco, Frances McDormand

"City by the Sea" starring Robert DeNiro and Frances McDormand (Fargo & Almost Famous) is an exciting and heartfelt melodrama. Director Michael Caton-Jones proves himself with one of his greatest efforts to date, bouncing back from his previous disappointing and misdirected film "The Jackal." Caton-Jones displays a style all his own with stunning atmospheric poignancy. The city by the sea, to which the film refers to is Long Island, N.Y., a wonderfully lonely and dilapidated city to where junkie Jimmy Nova, (DeNiro's son) calls home.

DeNiro plays a well-respected cop with a terribly troubled past that seems to constantly haunt him. His ex-wife, played by Patti Lupone, struggles to get over the violence of their past relationship while his son, played by James Franco, is headed down the same path as DeNiro's father once was, that of an (alleged?) murderer. Jimmy Nova, as he's known around town mixes with the wrong crowd, as do most junkies, and one night finds himself struggling for his life, and before he knows it, stabbing and killing a high profile drug dealer. This relatively small act of self-defense cascades a sequence of irreversible events, which never seem to let up until the end. DeNiro, of course, is assigned to the case and unknowingly hunts down his own son who he hasn't seen or heard from in several years. Both father and son have moved on with their lives since their seperation, but still harbor intense emotional feelings for each other that seem to slowly emerge further and further into the film. To top it all off the two men are involved in complex relationships of their own which naturally complicates things further.

DeNiro's relationship with Frances McDormand seems quite convenient at times, but nonetheless shows the tenderness and compassion of both characters, while Franco's relationship feels more like a fling with multiple strings attached. In the end, both DeNiro and his son must face the issues that have plagued them for three generations and make one of the hardest decisions of their life.

Similar topics and themes in "City by the Sea", were explored in "Road to Perdition", however it is the way that they are explored that keeps the film feeling fresh and unique. Similar themes explored are the father-son relationship, the destructive path of violence and crime, and most importantly the will and courage to fight for a second chance at life. I was particularly impressed with the atmospheric mood of New York that Caton-Jones set from the beginning, reminiscent of Scorcese's "Taxi Driver", thus giving the film the reality that many recent Hollywood films tend to lack. The acting in this film is of the highest quality and will not be overlooked, contending with so

City by the Sea fmovies. Straight-laced detective Vincent LaMarca(a pained and restrained Robert DeNiro) has already lived a disrupted and uneven life of broken relationships and the memory of his dad who was imprisoned and executed for the death(later deemed accidental)of a kid that he had kidnapped). As if that weren't enough to bear,his troubled son Joey(JAmes Franco) has ran away and faces trouble with both the law and the baddies,particularly a vile thug named Spyder(William Forsythe). This is the general construct of director Michael Caton-JOnes' and screenwriter Ken Hixon's film. Set in an unspecified part of New Jersey(though one might infer that it's Atlantic City,given the title),this film is mostly character study,with actors Franco,Eliza Dushku(As Joey's scared girlfriend)and Forsythe making the most of their characters,while DeNiro and Frances McDormand(as DeNiro's patient friend and lover) provide fine,if not exception,performances in this drama. Good for a viewing or two. 8 out of 10

City By the Sea is definately the most depressing movie I have ever seen. It's amazing to see how much troubles one man has to endure all at once. I wasn't expecting much from this film but I was surprised at the strength that this movie has. It takes your emotions on a roller-coaster ride. Robert DeNiro has an amazing screen presence and his performance is very well done and is very convincing. It was great to see DeNiro in a role like this after seeing him in somewhat demeaning roles like that in 'Analyze This'. DeNiro is truly a powerful actor and this movie reassures that. James Franco is equally convincing as Robert DeNiro's junkie son. Some parts of the movie are so morbid that it is discouraging, but the overall excellence of City By the Sea is well worth it. At first the characters seem a little one-dimensional, but as the plot progresses all that changes. This is a very well done movie with great acting, directing and cinematography. Powerful and moving.

****

"City by the Sea" is all about De Niro as a New York homicide detective who views the world as black and white and has trouble dealing with the grays of interpersonal relationships. Adrift between a broken home history, an ex-wife, a companion and bed mate (McDormand), and a adult son junkie (Franco), the aging cop protag finds that forging needed reconciliations is more difficult than busting the scumbags on his beat. A solid three star drama, "City by the Sea" is a must see for De Niro fans and a good watch for anyone into gritty dramas. (B+)