"City by the Sea" is all about De Niro as a New York homicide detective who views the world as black and white and has trouble dealing with the grays of interpersonal relationships. Adrift between a broken home history, an ex-wife, a companion and bed mate (McDormand),and a adult son junkie (Franco),the aging cop protag finds that forging needed reconciliations is more difficult than busting the scumbags on his beat. A solid three star drama, "City by the Sea" is a must see for De Niro fans and a good watch for anyone into gritty dramas. (B+)
City by the Sea
2002
Action / Crime / Drama / Mystery / Thriller
City by the Sea
2002
Action / Crime / Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Plot summary
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.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
The "Good Bye" guy
A Great Movie, Just Because of the Selected Cast
Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) is a detective investigating the murder of a drug dealer. He is a man with a past which he wants to forget. His father was killed in Sing Sing, in the electric chair, after kidnapping a baby and request a ransom, since the baby accidentally died in the back seat of his car. Then, his future father-in-law helped him, but his marriage did not work out. Vincent moved to Manhattan, looking for a new life. Presently, he realizes that the man accused of being the killer is his son, Joey Nova (James Franco). Vincent tries to help Joey and his grandson, as looking for a redemption. This film is based on a true story published in the newspapers. Its greatest triumph is the selection and the performances of Robert De Niro, Frances McDormand and James Franco. The presence of these great actors and actress brings the film to a high level, and the end is not corny, although having the redemption of the character of Vincent. Indeed it is more a familiar drama than a police or crime story. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): `O Último Suspeito' (`The Last Suspect')
A PROBLEM SHARED..
Vincent LaMarca (Robert De Niro) is a police officer who has problems with intimacy, sharing, and commitment. These issues are reflected in his estranged son Joey (James Franco) who is a drug user and is wanted for murder of a drug dealer named Picasso (Jay Boryea),a murder he did commit. Frances McDormand plays Michelle, the girlfriend of LaMarca, someone who Di Niro has a hard time confiding in. Eliza Dushku is Joey's drug using girlfriend.
As De Niro and the cops are looking for Joey, so is Spyder (William Forsythe) the drug partner of dead Picasso. This is low action cop drama, which delves into the character of LaMarca, and is perhaps a study in psychology on how we are affected by our relationships with our father. The drama overshadows the crime aspect of the story. Well acted, directed etc. I just wasn't overly entertained by the film...and I blame my father for that.
PARENTAL GUIDE: F-bomb, no sex, no nudity.