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City by the Sea

City by the Sea

Crime · Drama · Mystery · 2002

Vincent LaMarca is a dedicated and well-respected New York City police detective who has gone to great lengths to distance himself from his past, but then makes the terrible discovery that his own son has fallen into a life of crime.

Movie details

City by the Sea

“When you're searching for a killer... the last suspect you want to see is your son.”

2002 Crime · Drama · Mystery 1h 48m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

5.8 / 10

Community rating

Vincent LaMarca is a dedicated and well-respected New York City police detective who has gone to great lengths to distance himself from his past, but then makes the terrible discovery that his own son has fallen into a life of crime.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over City by the Sea?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Michael Caton-Jones

Written by

Ken Hixon

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Vincent LaMarca

Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand

Michelle

James Franco

James Franco

Joey

Eliza Dushku

Eliza Dushku

Gina

William Forsythe

William Forsythe

Spyder

Patti LuPone

Patti LuPone

Maggie

Anson Mount

Anson Mount

Dave Simon

Court is in session

Put City by the Sea on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Patience is part of the point.”

Duration becomes texture. The film asks you to inhabit its world instead of merely processing its plot.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“A test of endurance, your honour.”

Stillness keeps submitting itself as meaning. At some point, contemplation needs something worth contemplating.