City by the Sea

Name: City by the Sea
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 6, 2002
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 50
Cast: Frances McDormand, James Franco, Robert De Niro

2002

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 34 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 48 Ratings

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9.5

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9.5	User Score Universal acclaim based on 48 Ratings

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CITY BY THE SEA

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: September 6, 2002

Starring: Frances McDormand, James Franco, Robert De Niro

Summary: The gripping story of a dedicated police officer who discovers that the chief suspect in his current murder investigation is his own son. (Warner Bros.)

Director: Michael Caton-Jones

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

L.A. Weekly - Chuck Wilson

For the first time in years, De Niro digs deep emotionally, perhaps because he's been stirred by the powerful work of his co-stars, including a subtle Frances McDormand and a ferocious Patti LuPone, as well as the heartbreaking (and achingly beautiful) Franco. Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman

Moves along with a quietude, a scruffy direct plainness that has long gone out of style. Read full review

Seattle Post-Intelligencer - William Arnold

For some reason, the emotional payoff of the film -- the healing of a dysfunctional family -- doesn't quite come off. Possibly this is because Franco doesn't generate the necessary sympathy or father-son chemistry with De Niro, possibly because it's just not in the script. Read full review

Wall Street Journal - Collin Levey

Notwithstanding a thin script and a color-by-numbers ending, the movie is redeemed by its solid performances.

Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan

Has trouble seeming real. Its back story, involving the sins of Detective LaMarca's own father, feels contrived and the eventual resolution is simultaneously shaky and too pat. Read full review

New York Daily News - Jack Mathews

The changes are meant to make it easier for audiences to accept Vincent's loyalty to Angelo and Joey, but they blunt the genetic mystery that made McAlary's story so compelling in the first place. Read full review

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

The true story of the LaMarcas, well told by the late Mike McAlary in Esquire, has been pounded into TV-crime mush by screenwriter Ken Hixon and director Michael Caton-Jones. Shockingly, the acting doesn't help. Read full review

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User Reviews

JohnN.

Mar 1, 2006

I thought this was a beautifully constructed movie; a gripping story, great casting and understandably strong performances. Notably, I welcomed the minimal use of music to tell me how I should feel; the script and performances were largely left to stand on their strengths. It's a I thought this was a beautifully constructed movie; a gripping story, great casting and understandably strong performances. Notably, I welcomed the minimal use of music to tell me how I should feel; the script and performances were largely left to stand on their strengths. It's a mystery to me that this movie had such poor reviews, although perhaps it suited the DVD medium on which we viewed it. Highly recommended.… Expand

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Meth-dude

Feb 6, 2017

The acting was good, the story was interesting, the movie was well made and it was pretty entertaining. There were a few plot holes here and there and the ending was disappointing, but, overall, it was an enjoyable drama.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Mr-Liberal-LDS

Feb 2, 2013

Imagine eating five or six pieces of toast as a meal, wouldn't you be left feeling like, "Is this it?!?" It isn't that there is anything wrong with toast, but piece after piece it wouldn't make for much of a meal in it of itself. In the same way, City by the Sea just didn't leave meImagine eating five or six pieces of toast as a meal, wouldn't you be left feeling like, "Is this it?!?" It isn't that there is anything wrong with toast, but piece after piece it wouldn't make for much of a meal in it of itself. In the same way, City by the Sea just didn't leave me satisfied. It wasn't that there was anything blaringly wrong with it, but it never presented any interesting flavors to savor; it just bored me. Things picked up later in the movie, and I did like the poignancy of the ending, but I just didn't think it was worth the wait to get there. The trailer makes it look like an edge of your seat thriller it is not.… Expand

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