City by the Sea is a pretty average movie. It follows a cop (De Niro), whose father was executed for the murder of a child and who is now investigating another murder - perpetrated by his own estranged son.
What stands out for me about the film is it's "realness". Although I have no idea what a Long Island junkie, or NYC detective would talk like, it was refreshing to watch a film where the characters didn't burst into big emotional speeches, all the time.
While the characters are all faced with extraordinary circumstances, they react in a convincingly ordinary way - the way you'd expect real people to act.
The most striking aspect of the film however is the rancidly dilapidated and utterly depressing scenery of Long Island where the film is set.
One criticism I do have is the name of two of the low-life villains in the film: "Spider" and "Snake"? I mean, come on.
In conclusion, City by the Sea is a pretty good film, which I would rate a lucky 7 out of 10, and recommend to anyone who likes a gritty, realistic cop/family drama.
What stands out for me about the film is it's "realness". Although I have no idea what a Long Island junkie, or NYC detective would talk like, it was refreshing to watch a film where the characters didn't burst into big emotional speeches, all the time.
While the characters are all faced with extraordinary circumstances, they react in a convincingly ordinary way - the way you'd expect real people to act.
The most striking aspect of the film however is the rancidly dilapidated and utterly depressing scenery of Long Island where the film is set.
One criticism I do have is the name of two of the low-life villains in the film: "Spider" and "Snake"? I mean, come on.
In conclusion, City by the Sea is a pretty good film, which I would rate a lucky 7 out of 10, and recommend to anyone who likes a gritty, realistic cop/family drama.