City by the Sea [WS]

Director: Michael Caton-Jones Michael Caton-Jones

Overview

"Robert De Niro, at least in the last few years, is often better than the material he has to work with. Case in point: City by the Sea, an average film based on a true story. As a whole, the DVD doesn't fare much better. High marks, though, go to Warner for a top notch transfer. The 2.35:1 anamorphic image (yes, there is a separate pan-and-scan version) is as good as any new theatrical print. Detail is excellent and so are the muted, yet distinguishable colors. The darker scenes also come across very well, never showing any signs of breakdown. The sound, while there are no real complaints, isn't outstanding in any way. This 5.1 Dolby Digital track is basically centered up front, with some selective use of the surrounds and appropriate bass. Though it's not something to get excited about, at least the dialogue is clear, as well as the sound effects. As for supplements, they don't add up to a lot. Yes, there is a scene-specific commentary from screenwriter Ken Hixon and producer Matthew Baer, but it's full of silent gaps, and when they do talk, it's focus is on characters and less on the actual making of the film. A commentary from director Michael Caton-Jones would have been a welcome addition to counterpoint this track. What Caton-Jones does offer is an eight-minute discussion of the filmmaking process. It's certainly interesting, but with such a short time, he never has a chance to go into great detail. Beyond this is the standard cast and crew filmographies and the theatrical trailer."

Product Details

Release Date:	02/18/2003
UPC:	0085392208227
Original Release:	2002
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Home Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:48:00
Sales rank:	34,937

Special Features

Closed Caption;Feature-length commentary by writer Ken Hixon and producer Matthew Baer; Six words about filmmaking with Michael CAton-Jones; Interactive menus; Theatrical trailer; Cast/director/writer film highlights; Scene access; Languages: English & Français (dubbed in Quebec); Subtitles: English, Français & Español

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robert De Niro	Det. Vincent La Marca,Vanessa Hansen
Frances McDormand	Michelle
James Franco	Joseph `Joey' Nova
Eliza Dushku	Gina
William Forsythe	Spyder
George Dzundza	Reg Duffy
Patti LuPone	Maggie
Anson Mount	Dave Simon
John Doman	Capt. Henderson
Brian Tarantina	Snake
Jay Boryea	Picasso,Picasso
Michael P. Moran	Herb
Dominick Angelo Cangro	Baby Angelo
Nestor Serrano	Rossi
Matthew Cowles	Arnie
Pasquale Enrico Cangro	Baby Angelo
Linda Emond	Margery
Cyrus Farmer	Carl
Michelle Daimer	Terry
Leo Burmester	Lieutenant Katt
Gregg Edelman	A.P.C. Johnson
Jason Winther	Jason
Leslie Cohen	Jean
Stephi Lineberg	Bree
Mark La Mura	Mayor Jackson
Teresa Kelsey	Reporter Laura
Jill Marie Lawrence	Evelyn
Michael Dellafemina	Angelo LaMarca
Jim Marcus	Medical Examiner
Joanne Lamstein	Screaming Teen
Stephi Lineburg	Bree
Orlando Pabjoy	Will
Teresa Woods	Reporter Carol

Technical Credits

Ken Hixon

Mike McAlary

Michael Caton-Jones	Director,Producer
Ken Hixon	Screenwriter
Don Carmody	Executive Producer
Dan Klores	Executive Producer
Roger Paradiso	Executive Producer
Andrew Stevens	Executive Producer
Matt Baer	Producer,Producer
Brad Grey	Producer
Elie Samaha	Producer
Connie Brink	Special Effects
Frank Ferrara Sr.	Stunts
Cathy Sandrich Gelfond	Casting
Amanda Mackey Johnson	Casting
John E. Sullivan	Special Effects
Simon Taylor	Special Effects
Mike McAlary	Screenwriter
Tom Nelson	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

There's no Hollywood gloss to speak of in City by the Sea -- every character has a grungy, outer-boroughs brokenness that's totally life-sized. This is more a strength than a weakness of Michael Caton-Jones' film, but it leaves things so workmanlike that the movie blends into the cinematic woodwork. Still, a movie should hardly be blamed for refusing to elbow its way into the spotlight, and City by the Sea is a nice enough little cop noir set among the detritus of a splintered family and a broken-down New York boardwalk town. At its best moments, it resembles the kind of blue-collar American story a director like Sidney Lumet would have made in the 1970s. At other times, it tries a little too hard for thematic parallels between characters, resulting in some clunky, overly expository exchanges in the dialogue. Robert De Niro leads a cast of actors who effectively disappear into their roles. Fresh off a series of contrived characters in contrived movies, De Niro willfully downsizes to something more organic and small, which also pays homage to his New York roots. It's a successful endeavor. Frances McDormand initially seems too WASPish a choice for Vincent LaMarca's gruff-cop world, but she soberly crystallizes some of the issues facing him about choices and responsibility. James Franco goes deeper than his matinee-idol looks, arriving at a place where the audience has no trouble believing him as a skuzzy junkie. It's the strong character development in Ken Hixon's script that eventually creeps up and gives City by the Sea whatever emotional resonance it has.