Pristine excellence

Rating: 8/10 (8 August 2012)

Violence and brutality abound in this passionate story of a city and its crime wave. City of God tells the story of this city, the City of God, which sits just a few miles away from Rio de Janero, but it's no paradise. It's a dangerous and crime ridden world where gangs run the streets and guns and drugs are the things which give a man power and control over everyone else. We learn the story of this city from the eyes of Rocket, a quiet young man with hopes of being a journalist one day, assuming he can survive that long in such dangerous conditions. Through crafty editing, engrossing cinematography, and a plethora of disturbingly real performances we witness a most unsettling yet uniquely fascinating story unfold in City of God.
This is one of those films that has one word to describe it. That word is memorable. The film is absolutely memorable above everything else. It has its own incredibly unique style and it tells a story of a world unlike anything the common man lives in. The atrocities committed in this film by adults and children alike are a lot to bare and a lot to take in, especially knowing that this is a true story. The world operates differently in little places like this, and City of God gives us such an unabashed and unrelenting look at just what a brutally different world this is.
Everything about this film is some kind of excellent. It's well directed, well written, and well acted. The film comes together to be a truly engaging story with an unforgettable stylistic way of telling that story, one that works extremely well in its own special way. The story is told in a linear fashion while also jumping back in time every once in a while to catch us up on the vast modern history of this city. The city itself becomes a character, morphing and changing through the years, adapting cultural phenomenas here and there while still retaining its violent upbringing. A sort of mythos and lore is built around the city, and this is a tell all tale about it.
All in all I was just incredibly impressed with City of God. It's a film of very pristine quality, never missing a beat amidst all its chaos and the vast amount of characters that are all part of the story. It's a story about a part of society many of us don't know about, and the film really boils down to just that. There isn't much hidden metaphor within the film or anything particularly special to look for. It's just for the purpose of telling an immaculate and moving story about a city and it's inhabitants. And that story makes this film a fantastic watch from start to finish and it leaves you with unforgettable memories about what some people are capable of. It really is a great film.