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Amazon.co.uk Review
A welcome throwback to the cop dramas of the 1970s, City by the Sea is an average film improved by its cast. Robert De Niro stars as veteran New Jersey detective Vincent LaMarca, lamenting the once-glorious Asbury Park boardwalk, now dilapidated from the decay of changing times. A good cop but a regrettable father, LaMarca must confront past mistakes and repressed memories when his estranged son (James Franco) becomes the prime suspect in the killing of LaMarca's partner (George Dzundza).
There's a nagging inevitability to Ken Hixon's otherwise intelligent screenplay, but De Niro and Frances McDormand--as LaMarca's compassionate neighbour and part-time girlfriend--turn this simmering drama into something deeper than it is. McDormand's role would be thin without the depth and humanity she brings to it and both De Niro and Franco mine gold from their troubling father-son legacy. Based on a true story, City by the Sea has that kernel of authenticity on which good actors thrive. --Jeff Shannon
DVD Description
New York City homicide detective Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) has forged a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, making a name for himself as a man intensely committed to his work. But on his latest case, the stakes are higher for Vincent – the suspect he’s investigating is his own son, Joey (James Franco). Vincent and Joey have been painfully estranged ever since Vincent divorced Joey’s mother and left the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island for the anonymity of Manhattan and a successful career with the NYPD. He lives his life in solitude, keeping even his girlfriend (Frances McDormand) at arm’s length. The closest relationship he maintains is with his partner, Reg (George Dzundza) – and Vincent makes sure that stops at the precinct door. As long as Vincent lives in the protection of the present, he doesn’t have to deal with the pain of his past. The murder investigation draws Vincent home to Long Beach, the self-proclaimed City by the Sea, where the past has been waiting for him to return. In the course of his investigation, Vincent discovers that his own unresolved pain and failures as a father have deeply influenced Joey’s life and the destructive choices he has made. As a cop, Vincent must bring a criminal to justice: as a father, he must find a way to save his son. Now he will put his life on the line in order to do right by both his family and his profession.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
It looks like your average junkie-kid-gone-bad film at the start, but actually turns into one of the most interesting and touching-without-being-cheesy films of its kind I've seen.
Robert DeNiro is excellent as always, as the father/cop in a compromising position and James Franco is a mesmirising new talent who brings life into every drug-addled scene. A welcome appearance from Buffy's Eliza Dushku shows her as an actress capable of so much more than All-American teen.
The script is excellent, with not a wasted camera shot in sight,and a number of unexpectedly well-timed humourous moments. It's extremely refreshing to see a different side of New York to the glittering, glamourous one we're so used to in Sex and the City and the general Hollywood scene, and the result is a highly entertaining, wonderfully poignant, well-acted and well thought out film. Go see.
P.S. - this is a junkie film with no needles! A good thing for fellow needlephobics...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Very much a drama rather than a thriller, which often means it will fail to impress a thrill seeking cinema audience that's not exactly sure what to expect, from the title. And this was the case with City by the Sea, according to its poor takings. It probably works better as home entertainment, where you can choose what type of film to watch to suit your mood. So it is that this DVD is getting slightly better reviews than the cinema release did. It plays more like a TV crime drama than a cinema thriller anyway, with its emphasis on the relationship between cop father DeNiro and wayward criminal son Franco. It is fairly involving and the narrative is well handled by the director, staying true to the pace needed for a drama, not a thriller. It has very good performances too from some of Hollywood's biggest names. DeNiro in particular appears to enjoy the change of role from a full on character type to a more philosophical, compromised and well rounded character, the sort he always plays so well, making you wonder why he doesn't get more of these.
3.5
3.5
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I really enjoyed this film. Robert De Niro, as always, was brilliant as was James Franco. I wish Eliza Dushku had a bigger part even though she displayed what an amazing actress she is in the short time she was in the film. Overall a great film. The dvd extras are good. I enjoyed the commentary. Hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
AVOID AT ALL COSTS
This 'DVD' was advertised at an incredibly low price and even
at that price was unbelievably poor value. Read more
at that price was unbelievably poor value. Read more
Published 28 days ago by A. Bridger
Terrific cop drama
I just finished watching this terrific thriller/drama on the telly and was instantly motivated to buy it on blu ray only to find out it's still just on dvd. Read more
Published 22 months ago by P. Barone
Corking Film
William Forstyhe is great as the film's villian, giving his role a real menace. De Niro is stunningly good as an aging cop struggling to relate both to his son and grand-child,... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2010 by Mrs. Mildred N. Collins
city by the sea
a good film obviously with robert de niro in,not a lot of action associated with him, but a good story nevertheless.
Published on 15 Mar 2009 by Sa Seal
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