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All Movie Info
Directed By
Fernando Meirelles
Cast:
Seu Jorge, Alice Braga, Matheus Nachtergaele, Douglas Silva, Jonathan Haagensen, Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino, Phellipe Haagensen, Jonathan Haagensen, Seu Jorge, Jefechander Suplino
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City of God (2002)
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Movie Review by Jarrod 
October 27th, 2007
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'City of God' is a depressing, visceral experience, one of the best crime drams ever made, an unflattering look at slum life in Brazil, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. This is not organized crime as we know it from The Godfather; there is little professionalism here, it is more like Scarface, explosive and brutal, with heavy doses of shocking violence and profanity. Crime, in this case, is a means of survival, but that is no real excuse for it, but it does help to explain it. We meet Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues), who wants to be a photographer. He is smart and ambitious. Then, there is L'il Ze (Leandro Firmino), who turns to drug dealing, and develops an enthusiasm for killing. He heads his own gang, and is suspicious of everyone, the only person he trusts is Benny, his closest friend, and the brains behind his operation. The police swing by every now and then to raid homes and arrest troublemakers, but this doesn't happen very often, and the cops don't go about their business gently. 'City of God', like few other movies, explores the hopelessness and desperation of poverty, and makes clear how such a condition doesn't provide many opportunities for success, except for someone like Ze, who is willing to abandon his humanity. Rocket is an exception, and what a fascinating character he is. Ze is also fascinating, but in a much different way. We are drawn to him; he is charismatic despite his sadistic impulses, which lead not only to murder, but also to rape. It holds nothing back. It is grim and bleak, but stylishly so, director Fernando Meirelles adds visual potency to many of these images, his use of color is also notable. It is unforgettable.
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