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Asphalt City

Asphalt City

Thriller · Drama · 2023

A young paramedic is paired with a seasoned partner on the night shift in New York revealing a city in crisis. Discovering the chaos firsthand, he is tested with the ethical ambiguity that can be the difference between life and death.

Movie details

Asphalt City

“Welcome to the frontlines.”

2023 Thriller · Drama 2h 0m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

A young paramedic is paired with a seasoned partner on the night shift in New York revealing a city in crisis. Discovering the chaos firsthand, he is tested with the ethical ambiguity that can be the difference between life and death.

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 Asphalt City?

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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The Talented Mr. Ripley

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Tom Ripley is a calculating young man who believes it's better to be a fake somebody than a real nobody. Opportunity knocks in the form of a wealthy U.S. shipbuilder who hires Tom to travel to Italy to bring back his playboy son, Dickie. Ripley worms his way into the idyllic lives of Dickie and his girlfriend, plunging into a daring scheme of duplicity, lies and murder.

You Were Never Really Here

You Were Never Really Here

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A traumatized veteran, unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe's nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered—leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.

Once Upon a Time in America

Once Upon a Time in America

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The Hate U Give

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Requiem for a Dream

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25th Hour

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Bringing Out the Dead

Bringing Out the Dead

Drama · 1999

Once called "Father Frank" for his efforts to rescue lives, Frank Pierce sees the ghosts of those he failed to save around every turn. He has tried everything he can to get fired, calling in sick, delaying taking calls where he might have to face one more victim he couldn't help, yet cannot quit the job on his own.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire

Written by

Ben Mac Brown · Ryan King

Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Gene Rutkovsky

Tye Sheridan

Tye Sheridan

Ollie Cross

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Verdis

Raquel Nave

Raquel Nave

Clara

Kali Reis

Kali Reis

Nia

Michael Pitt

Michael Pitt

Lafontaine

Katherine Waterston

Katherine Waterston

Nancy

Court is in session

Put Asphalt City on trial.

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

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.