Lower City
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Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 20
  3. Negative: 1 out of 20
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    83
    Director Sérgio Machado, who worked as an assistant to Central Station's Walter Salles, lingers sensually over every wrong move his attractive tragic trio make.
  2. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    78
    Alice Braga owns this film.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    60
    From its actual and figurative scenes of cockfighting to its copious use of throbbing Brazilian music, there's little here that rises above the level of formula. But director Machado displays a sure touch in his ability to convey the sultry atmosphere of his exotic setting, and he has elicited admirably naturalistic performances from his highly attractive, youthful performers.
  4. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Ruthe Stein
    25
    Two guys panting over the same babe leads to tedium, despite a near-record number of overheated sex scenes.

See all 20 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. NicoDaFlagburna
    8
    The premise is standard-fare and undoubtedly lightweight but there is enough here to warrant my captivation. It is the dynamics of the male relationship that makes this film attractive and despite being almost ambient in tone there is a pervading sense of emotional friction. We are offered very little back-story about their lives which makes it difficult to judge the characters, particularly as it seems they are carrying a lot of baggage. The film raises questions relating to the roles of sexuality and violence existing either as a force for creation or destruction. Ultimately a simple film which is substantial in thought but maybe lacking in creativity. 8/10 78/100… Expand
  2. ChadS.
    5
    On their way to El Salvador, Deco(Lazaro Ramos) and Naldinho(Wagner Moura) attend a cock fight. Karinna(Alice Braga) wanted a quicker ride(the two men own a boat) so she took off with a trucker. "Lower City" doesn't go with her, presumably because the filmmaker wanted to establish that the continuation of a long-term friendship should take priority over the collective temporary lust for some midriff-baring trollop. "Lower City" is more concerned with the men. We don't learn a damn thing about Karinna because the film self-consciously wants her to remain an object of desire. If we learn too much about this girl(if say, she was abused by an uncle) the numerous love scenes by which Braga flaunts her nubility in a passionate state of undress, would seem more sorrowful than erotic if her insatiability had the appearance of a stopgap measure for her tumultuous past. At the cockfight, a cock dies. If you're completely unaware of what inevitability is in store for Deco and Naldinho, you've probably been to more cockfights than movies. The sex is hot, but since "Lower City" isn't strong on character development, or story, our attitude towards Braga's nudity takes on a "been there, seen that" disposition.… Expand

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