Competes for all-time top honors

Rating: 10/10 (21 September 2010)

While perhaps not the best film ever made, City of God clearly competes for top honors. While the heart of the movie is a tragedy about the effects of crime and poverty in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, it does not treat it's viewer as a torture subject. There are many tragedies, both minor and major, that befall the characters. The life in a Rio slum is not portrayed as a fairy tale world, however, there are moments of joy, love, and fun. The script itself would make City of God a great movie, but it was also very well conceived. The camera direction is fast-paced and modern without being overly jumpy, the actors all play their roles naturally, and the production value is incredibly high (especially considering the relatively modest budget.) At once a very serious and thought-provoking film, City of God perfectly balances serious subject matter and a high level of entertainment in a way I have not yet seen any other film achieve.