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Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand, James Franco, Eliza Dushku, William Forsythe ... see more see more... , George Dzundza , Patti LuPone , Anson Mount , John Doman , Brian Tarantina , Jay M. Boryea , Leo Burmeister , Matthew Cowles , Michael Dellafemina , Gregg Edelman , Mark Lamura , Michael P. Moran , Nestor Serrano , Stephi Lineburg , Drena De Niro , Jim Marcus , Jason Winther , Linda Emond , Cyrus Farmer , Jill Marie Lawrence , Dominick Angelo Cangro , Pasquale Enrico Cangro , Leslie Cohen , Michelle Daimer , Teresa Kelsey , Joanne Lamstein , Orlando Pabjoy , Teresa Woods , Frances Mc Dormand , Patti Lu Pone

A man struggling to come to terms with the sins of his father makes the terrible discovery that his own son has fallen into a life of crime in a drama based on a true story. Vincent LaMarca (Robert De... read more read more...Niro) is a dedicated and well-respected New York City police detective who has gone to great lengths to distance himself from his past; four decades earlier, Vincent's father Angelo killed a young child, and since then Vincent has carried emotional scars from this incident that he refuses to show to the world. Vincent lives alone in a small apartment building, though he has nurtured a close if tentative relationship with his downstairs neighbor, Michelle (Frances McDormand). One day, Vincent and his partner, Reg Duffy (George Dzundza), are assigned to investigate a murder when the body of a young man is found dead in a dumpster. It turns out the body was that of a drug dealer, and the dealer's partner in crime, Spyder (William Forsythe), believes the killer was one of his regular customers -- a junkie would-be musician who calls himself Snake (Brian Tarantina). City By the Sea was adapted from a piece by journalist Mike McAlary which first appeared in Esquire magazine; the cast also includes Eliza Dushku and Anson Mount. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

40% liked it

15,440 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

141 critics

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Michael Caton-Jones

Release Date: September 6, 2002

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DVD Release Date: February 18, 2003

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Stats: 445 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (445)

  • blkbomb
    December 11, 2011
    blkbomb
    Vincent LaMarca: How'd we get this way son? I remember the day you were born. 
    Joey: Yeah? Well, I remember the day you left. So we're even. 

    "When you're searching for a killer... the last suspect you want to see is your son."

    This is a very average movie with a few great acto... read morers and a couple horrible ones. With a better bad guy, this could have been a lot better, but they went the route of William Forsythe and that hurt the movie a lot. Then they threw in Elisha Dushku as Gina and that's pretty much a death sentence for any movie. Robert De Niro, James Franco and Frances McDormand do what they can to save this film from being what it is, but it isn't enough.

    Vincent LaMarca is a cop who's father was executed for the murder of a baby when he was just eight years old. Now he is investigating a case of a murdered drug dealer and the prime suspect is his son, who he hasn't seen in many years. He has quite a conundrum on his hands. He has to decide how to play this thing. Then more and more things come to the surface which makes it harder and harder for Vincent to act on any impulse. 

    City by the Sea isn't a horrible movie only because of the three excellent actors the film has. Without them, this would have only been a laughable, cliche, and extremely dull film. With them it manages to be entertaining to an extent. Just not enough to overcome the predictable story line and some of the other performances from actors that aren't excellent.

    It is worth a watch if you really like De Niro or Franco. Just don't expect to be blown away by it.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    August 13, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    When you're searching for a killer... the last suspect you want to see is your son.

    Good movie. Very good acting role by Robert De Niro as always brings his best. James Franco did a superb job too as a junkie on the run. The story was sad and depressing in a way and I can imagin... read moree what a dad must feel like in that situation. All-around a fair enough good solid movie.

    New York City homicide detective Vincent LaMarca 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. He and Joey have been painfully estranged ever since Vincent divorced his wife 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 his girlfriend at arm's length; the closest relationship he maintains is with his partner, Reg--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--or his sorrow over his broken relationship with Joey. But this murder investigation is drawing Vincent home to Long Beach, the self-proclaimed City by the Sea, where the past has been waiting for him to return. The agonizing memory that has tortured him all his life--the death of his father, a convicted murderer who was executed when Vincent was just a boy--still plagues him. In the course of the investigation, he discovers that his own unresolved pain and failures as a father have deeply influenced Joey's life, and now his 18-month-old grandson may be fated to follow their self-destructive paths.
  • ythelastman89
    November 22, 2009
    ythelastman89
    Not one of my favorite movies from Robert De Niro, but it is a decent film none the less. It has a lot of good casting choices, especially James Franco who did an amazing job. The story is a little weak, but it's mainly due to the reputation that comes with De Niro.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    A really good film that totally looses it in the last 15 minutes. De Niro isn't up to standard and Forsythe is terrible as Snake. McDormand is wasted but Franco is quite good! Nothing special though!
  • 76Majikat
    February 28, 2008
    76Majikat
    A film that questions family loyalty and doing the right thing. Strong performances by De Niro and McDormand and an intriguing story.
  • garyX
    October 25, 2007
    garyX
    Long Island detective Robert DeNiro relives his past when his estranged son becomes a murder suspect. An above par cast bolsters an otherwise run of the mill cop thriller cum family drama that fails to deliver on both counts. The drama side of things is far too soapy, with McDorm... read moreand having little to do except make two dimensional moralisations, and the thriller is superficial and contains some real flaws in logic. The cast keeps it watchable however; Franco is suitably downtrodden as the junkie son, but seeing a mulleted, pot-bellied and jumper clad DeNiro deliver a dewy-eyed, cliche riddled speech about second chances is quite embarrassing considering the power and intensity we all know he's capable of. Add to this uninspired direction and the result is far too cliched and simplistic to be taken seriously.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    April 11, 2007
    MidnightMadwoman
    I like James Franco and Robert deNiro, but this movie is completely devoid of energy and it drags the whole cast down. I would have much preferred if this movie had been about the father's relationship with the son, instead of... whatever it was actualy about.
  • flickfever
    July 11, 2006
    flickfever
    This movie is proof that Robert De Niro can be in mediocre movies. Forget about Showtime-- that was MEANT to be mediocre...this movie wasn't. Although the suspense and acting are good, the plot is all-too-familiar and the story moves in a more-than-predictable direction. Too bad... read more Frances McDormand is in this too-- she's usually much better than this.
  • michaelcorleone
    January 24, 2011
    michaelcorleone
    Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand and James Franco all deliver powerful, affecting performances in an otherwise stiff and uneven crime-drama. There are some very effective scenes, but just as many uncomfortably weak ones.
  • lovablemisanthrope
    August 26, 2010
    lovablemisanthrope
    Wasn't great, but I enjoyed it.

View All City by the Sea Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer
September 26, 2002
Peter Rainer, New York Magazine

A compendium of clichés about fathers and sons. Full Review

John Anderson
September 11, 2002
John Anderson, Newsday

A film that doesn't just support the action to come, but makes it seem inevitable. Full Review

Desson Thomson
September 6, 2002
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

De Niro's workmanlike in a dismayingly familiar role. Full Review

Stephen Hunter
September 6, 2002
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

I like everything about it except it. Full Review

Claudia Puig
September 6, 2002
Claudia Puig, USA Today

It's a run-of-the-mill cop thriller but also a gripping family drama. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
September 6, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

De Niro has been showing us great stuff for 30 years now, but in this movie he shows us something new.. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
September 6, 2002
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand almost rescue this lifeless, cliched cop drama! Close isn't good enough! Full Review

Joe Baltake
September 6, 2002
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

An honorable film that works as a nagging missed opportunity. Full Review

Peter Travers
September 6, 2002
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

De Niro may enjoy the same free ride from critics afforded to Clint Eastwood in the lazy Bloodwork. But like Bruce Springsteen's gone-to-pot Asbury Park, New Jersey, this sad-sack waste of a movie is ...

Roger Moore
September 6, 2002
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's watchable. But the whole enterprise is something of a yawner, not exactly a ringing endorsement for the fall's first major drama.

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City by the Sea Trivia

  • In which 2 movie did Eliza Dushku and Robert De Niro start together in?  Answer »
  • What film starred a taxi driver, a vampire slayer and spidermans best friend turned arch enemy?  Answer »
  • At the beginning of "City by the Sea" what is James Franco trying to sell in order to get money for drugs?  Answer »
  • Who plays Robert de Niro's son in City by the Sea?  Answer »
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