City of Hope (1991)

Director John Sayles brings something rare to American films: a keen sense of purpose. The result is gutsy, knockdown entertainment. Building contractors, politicians, crime bosses and racist cops all contribute to this kaleidoscopic analysis of a New Jersey city riddled with corruption.City Of Hope is a masterly deconstruction of the power plays, vested interests and spheres of influence that run, and often ruin American cities. Unrivalled in its sheer scope and ambition until the TV series The Wire (2002), which it almost certainly influenced. This is Sayles' most satisfactory film.

Some people complain about the number of subplots:That's precisely what makes this movie so original and so endearing.This is a small microcosm of characters we follow during two hours without getting bored.Sometimes the director leaves two people talking for two other ones in the same sequence:this technique is an update of what William Wyler used to do notably in "detective story" (1952) and even "best years of our lives"(1946).The sequences are very short and are intertwined with skill;the cast is uniformly good,with Tony LoBianco as the stand-out.This is a very interesting movie ,focusing on such important subjects as responsibility,honesty and dignity.Really worthwhile.

This is supposed to be a story about - well, it's not really aboutanything - but it does have a whole mess of standard New Jerseystereotypes so I assume it is supposed to be about the grittyunderside of city corruption and the Political Machine.I think.Anyway, save your money, buy the Springsteen box set - or at leastthe greatest hit CD - because in 3 minutes of Springsteen you'llget a better understanding of blue collar northeastness than in all100 or whatever minutes of this film.Yo Nicky!

The 6 I gave "City of Hope" is the lowest rating I've given any Sayles film. I'm a bit loathe to give any of his films a poor rating because he makes such though-provoking films, but "City of Hope" never came together for me. Unlike the many different characters and situations he pulled together in his masterful "Lone Star," "City of Hope" felt disjointed, as if the stories where connected only superficially. I suspect it needs another fifteen minutes to pull everything together, but since Sayles has complete control over his films, the lack of end coherence must be blamed on him.There are some wonderful performances in this film, especially Vincent Spano, who seems to have disappeared from film.Well worth checking out, but I'd suggest watching "Lone Star," "Matewan," "Passion Fish," and "Men with Guns" first.