On patriotism and violent crime

Rating: 3/10 (16 March 2008)

What is it about violent crime that makes everyone so damn proud of it? From the brainless antics of Al Capone to the drugged stupidity of Scarface (and many others since  I didn't finish Reservoir Dogs cos it ended up in pieces in my garbage can) there seem to be no lengths to which directors won't go to display the trashier side of life and yet make it seem like they're showing cuddly everyday folks.
And now Brazil has a chance to flaunt its criminals, and no effort has been spared to demonstrate that when it comes to pointless shootin' and killin' the Brazilians (so it would seem) are way up there in front of the pack. They've even all got cute names, just in case you may decide to warm to them. Actually, I didn't (mostly). The more enjoyable scene of this movie for me was where they were all stretched out across the street dead as old mutton and more full of bullet holes than an rusty tin can in the back yard. I was disappointed that the director didn't follow this up with a shot of a sizeable nuclear weapon consuming the "City of God" in the sort of fireball which you normally associate with hell.
Then perhaps something natural like trees and stuff could take over.