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Vincent Spano, Joe Morton, Tony Lo Bianco, Anthony John Denison, Barbara Williams ... see more see more... , John Sayles , Bill Raymond , Angela Bassett , Chris Cooper , Gloria Foster , Josh Mostel , Jace Alexander , Ray Aranha , Bernard Canepari , Dale Carman , Jude Ciccolella , Miriam Colon , Tony Davis , Jon De Vries , Darryl Edwards , Frankie Faison , Gina Gershon , Todd Graff , Rose Gregorio , John Griesemer , Joe Grifasi , Serafin Jovet , Maeve Kinkead , S.J. Lang , Marianne Leone , Eileen Lynch , Michael Mantell , Randle Mell , Stephen Mendillo , Olga Merediz , Bob North , Steve Randazzo , Blair Shannon , Jojo Smollett , David Strathairn , Lawrence Tierney , Kevin Tighe , Scott Tiler , Jaime Tirelli , Edward Jay Townsend Jr. , Ginny Yang , Charlie Yanko , Louis Zorich , Mason K. Daring , John Farris , Maggie Renzi , Tom Wright , Barbara Hewson Shapiro

A city pulses with racial problems, political corruption, and small-time crime in this ambitious microcosm of urban life, written and directed by John Sayles. Nick Rinaldi (Vincent Spano), a lost soul... read more read more... usually high on drink and drugs, has spent his life in one New Jersey city, getting free rides from his connected father (Tony LoBianco) and hearing the locals talk of his brother's death in Vietnam. Searching for more control, Nick quits the cushy contractor's job provided by his Dad, feeling that major events are about to happen to him. That feeling proves accurate -- by film's end his life will change, as will the lives of many others. Nick is only the center of the movie's sprawling collection of people and plotlines; Sayles takes full advantage of this expansive landscape, as he often begins shooting one conversation, only to pull back and eavesdrop on another, in one smooth, intriguing shot. By listening in, we slowly learn about the citizens and their dilemmas, as the city's woes bubble to a narrative climax. Many of Sayles' regular players are on-screen (the movie features 52 roles), including Joe Morton as a frustrated councilman and David Strathairn as a disturbed street person. ~ Norm Schrager, Rovi

Flixster Users

79% liked it

1,024 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

15 critics

R, 2 hr. 9 min.

Directed by: John Sayles

Release Date: October 11, 1991

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DVD Release Date: May 20, 1992

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Stats: 42 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (42)

  • kenstachnik
    July 9, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Sayles best work by far. Simply an amazing film, a must for fans of the Wire. The fact this isn't available on DVD is proof of a cruel uncaring god.
  • thirdway821
    February 18, 2012
    thirdway821
    This is a good movie. A film that tackles racial problems, politics, corruption, protests, and urban life. "City Of Hope" is the American microcosm where all these diffrent stories and where most of the characters bump into one another. Sort of like taking all these ingridents an... read mored adding it into the stirring pot. Filmmaker John Sayles has taken this interconnected story that would remind one of the works of Robert Altman, Paul Thomas Anderson or Paul Haggis.

    Cinematographer Robert Richardson photographs with his trademark of using a bright key light shinning vividly on the cast and uses reds, yellows and other sources of lights to enhance the story. It's funny to also see Richardson in a small cameo scene as one of the convicts sitting silently at a police precinct. John Sayles also plays a part in the picture as Carl. A corrupted mechanic who wants piece of the action. Sayles's performace is chillingly frieghtning and brilliant adding another layer in the city of hope.

    A city pulses with racial problems, political corruption, and small-time crime in this ambitious microcosm of urban life, written and directed by John Sayles. Nick Rinaldi (Vincent Spano), a lost soul usually high on drink and drugs, has spent his life in one New Jersey city, getting free rides from his connected father (Tony LoBianco) and hearing the locals talk of his brother's death in Vietnam.

    Searching for more control, Nick quits the cushy contractor's job provided by his Dad, feeling that major events are about to happen to him. That feeling proves accurate -- by film's end his life will change, as will the lives of many others. Nick is only the center of the movie's sprawling collection of people and plotlines; Sayles takes full advantage of this expansive landscape, as he often begins shooting one conversation, only to pull back and eavesdrop on another, in one smooth, intriguing shot.

    By listening in, we slowly learn about the citizens and their dilemmas, as the city's woes bubble to a narrative climax. Many of Sayles' regular players are on-screen (the movie features 52 roles), including Joe Morton as a frustrated councilman and David Strathairn as a disturbed street person.
  • threefolddado
    June 17, 2008
    threefolddado
    Another great Sayles ensemble cast piece.
  • flixsterbum
    December 24, 2007
    flixsterbum
    I saw a couple reviews here calling "City of Hope" the "Crash" before "Crash". I think that sums it up quite well. This is a more emotionally complex version, in fact, forgoing the "gotcha" cleverness of "Crash" as you begin to realize how all the characters are connect, and in... read morestead connecting all the characters in a much more organic plot structure. I'm biased because I've become a big John Sayles fan, but he really is the most consistent storyteller I've encountered in my movie viewing. And as with all of his films, there are large social themes that are humanized in a great cast, including city corruption, racism, and poverty. And this really is a stellar cast; Joe Morton in particular shines as a city councilman struggling between his ethics and the "greater good". David Strathairn has a small, but excellent and very un-Strathairn-like role as a mentally ill homeless man. A satisfying, complex story.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
June 1, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Though flawed, Sayles' most ambitious film to date confronts modern America as it is beset with explosive racial and class tensions, escalating crime, political corruption, and police brutality. Full Review

Rob Thomas
April 28, 2005
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

A rare Sayles misstep that lets the message overrule the material.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
July 12, 2003
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A powerful and profound film about what is wrong with our cities and what it will take to save them. Full Review

Walter Chaw
July 6, 2002
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

A closed circle of aspiration and compromise, simple hopes impossibly complicated by the stark realities of life in a kind of wartime. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
August 12, 2001
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

I found the romance between Spano and Williams to be very believable and moving. Full Review

Shane Burridge
January 1, 2000
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews

A great dance that Sayles choreographs

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

No review available.

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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