Worthy crime film

Rating: 9/10 (30 August 2008)

This is a fantastic film about gang life in Brazil. For one thing, this film is visually stunning. The cinematography is gorgeous to look at. The camera motion and editing is relentless. This gives the film a raw, realistic feel, as if we are watching these events through the characters' eyes.
In addition to the amazing visual spectacle, it is very well written. It takes us through the lives of each member of the youth gang and flashbacks are used to give important background information. This way, we see the development of these kids, and how they got sucked into the gang lifestyle. From the sociopathic Li'l Ze to the extremely charismatic Benny, all of the characters are unique and fascinating to watch.
This film does not shy away from violence, and there are some disturbing scenes. However, it is not overly dark or preachy. In fact, there is some humor mixed in as well. The tone of this film reminds me of Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas". It shows both the glamor and the downfall of the gangster lifestyle. This is a very powerful and entertaining film and well worth checking out.