Click to read the article
City by the Sea (2002)
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Synopsis:
New York City homicide detective Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) 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...
New York City homicide detective Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) 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 (James Franco). 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 (Frances McDormand) at arm's length; the closest relationship he maintains is with his partner, Reg (George Dzundza) 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.
Haunted by his father's death, the sins of his own past, and the desire to break the cycle for the sake of his grandson's future, Vincent must put his life on the line in order to do right by both his family and his profession.
The Film stars Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand, James Franco, Eliza Dushku, William Forsythe, Patti LuPone and George Dzunzda.
City By The Sea is directed by Michael Caton-Jones and produced by Brad Grey, Elie Samaha, Michael Caton-Jones and Matthew Baer. -- © 2002 Warner Bros.
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand, George Dzundza, James Franco, William Forsythe
Screenwriter: Ken Hixon
Producer: Brad Grey, Matthew Baer, Elie Samaha, Michael Caton-Jones, Andrew Stevens
Composer: John Murphy
DVD Info
Release:
Jun 2, 2004
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Snap Case
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
- Single Side - Dual Layer
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - French
Reviews
Filmmaker Micahel Caton-Jones serves up an edgy drama filled with tragically flawed characters portrayed by Robert De Niro, James Franco and Frances MacDormand.
Caton-Jones ... understands that this story is not about how all the details work out, but about one man's heart and his slow awakening to moral responsibility.
If Rebel Without a Cause were told from the father's perspective, the result would probably be something like City by the Sea.
We watch an esteemed actor discovering new nuances. In turn, its a sublime reminder of the qualities that made Robert De Niro great, not a gimmick.
Related Forums
by: Lance 11/17/02

Top Critic


