Movie Review

Rating: 10/10 (16 October 2017)

WARNING: SPOLER ALERT!
I believe City of God(2002) is nothing short of cinematic excellence. The different technical elements incorporated into the film are especially effective in how they really draw the viewer in with suspenseful anticipation. One specific scene I especially enjoyed was the scene foreshadowing Benny's death. The fight between Benny and Lil Ze was intense in how it used the lighting and music at the party to amplify the chaos taking place. The scene used strobe lights and a constant cutting between Blacky (Benny's killer) and the fight that resulted in a flashy, jagged, quick paced, and borderline panicky style of editing that really conveyed the intensity of the moment. Additionally, another scene I found particularly effective was the scene describing the background story behind Blacky's apartment. The scene used a static long take with the characters involved in the narrative fading and dissolving into the set. This editing was creative in how the chronological narrative and still position of the camera established the permanence of the apartment by reinforcing its "historical" aspects- people came and went but the apartment never budged. The static long take shot was neat because it made one feel as though they were actually standing in the apartment kitchen witnessing the timeline of events firsthand. Lastly, I liked how the entire movie was narrated by the main character, and how every defining section of the movie was titled and noted on screen. It seemed to help a lot with the organization and flow of the film. While the film was not chronological in setup, it was still easy to follow and intriguing to watch. Great film.