Numbingly tragic yet gripping at the same time, City of God is an ugly tale beautifully displayed on screen

Rating: 10/10 (9 April 2008)

Sometimes in order to portray a harsh reality, one must embed vicious images into the minds of others, no matter how gruesome they may be. City of God is a ghastly movie full of things you thought you'd never see in a movie. What's even worse is how it's based off a true story. Even more terrifying then that is how the children in the movie for the most part have experience in the slums that are being portrayed. With kids being as skillful in murder as the average human being, City of God is a totally different look into the country of Brazil, one that you'd never see on the Travel Channel. Compared favorably to crime movies like Goodfellas, the only difference is in this narrative; you have no other choice but to be a gangster in the streets.
City of God follows the lives of two people that tread down different paths from the moment their childhood is introduced. On one hand, you have Rocket, a mild-mannered, quiet, kind individual mixed up in one of the more hostile environments portrayed on film. The other kid is Lil Ze', whose psychotic behaviors began as a child when he started tasting violence and enjoying it. One would rise up to try to escape the warzone, the other would thrive in it and become one of the leaders. As the movie progresses however, Lil' Ze begins losing control of his life, while Rocket slowly but surely has hope in leaving the area. The movie also drifts away from the main storyline multiple times to present smaller stories of other characters; some that fight, some that try to leave, and kids whose futures look bleak from the get go.
On a film like this, shooting on location and using people that have witnessed it all was a clever and well-executed idea. City of God uses kids, teenagers, adults, and elderly folks that have accustomed to the violent ways of life and present all their previous experience to this film. Tons of improvisation and a lot of dangerous cinematography later, this is one of the most brutally realistic movies about the drug world you'll ever see. The movie never focuses on main characters either, like a joyride you'll be taken through three different time periods and through the lives of multiple individuals and even the history of certain locations.
The frenzied storytelling is accompanied by frenzied editing; which meshes that of Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Pulp Fiction, Run, Lola, Run, and even The Matrix. While it isn't as tightened as the gems described in the previous sentence, it remains riveting and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The editing and directing is what runs the film, and with good results as well. Nobody is merely showing off their technical skills, the cuts distinguish the emotions of the scene, and just how frantic life is when bullets are ripping through the air. All sorts of cuts are strategically placed throughout the film; we get wipes, quick-cuts, cutaways; the works. You become a part of all that goes on, the camera-work and editing throws you right into the action.
Brutal is the best way to describe this movie. Everyone has a gun, from the heroes to the villains to even the children. Nobody is safe, everyone is being double-crossed, everyone is being questioned and questioning the actions of others. Like the eyes of God, all are equal but unlike Him they are all equal for the killing, regardless of age or stature. The innocent are killed, and so are the guilty, and so are the children. In one very sad scene, a little child is forced to choose from two similarly-aged kids who to kill. It's anybody's game out there in the streets; and nobody is spared. The death count is alarmingly high and whenever you begin to sympathize with someone, they bite the dust, become a victim of the violence that erupts. This makes the movie just as sad, just as gripping, and just as memorable. The acting is great because, they all know what its like and can perfectly convey it on camera with little help.
Bottom Line: City of God is an excellent mesh of editing, directing, cinematography, and re-creation of a bloody environment that few people know about. The story is sad and will tear your heart out, but will keep you watching as you root for a potential happy ending. What keeps you watching is the hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel, even when the characters are shrouded in uncertainty and darkness. There are few words that can describe just how good the story is; real-life events depict some of the best tales around, even if they can become very bleak in content. Like a kick in the chest, City of God unleashes an environment you'd never believe, simply because of how dreary and deadly the location is. Highly recommend, but be prepared for the grimness within.