viewers are humbly advised to look beyond the stylistics

Rating: 9/10 (2 July 2009)

'Cidade' has its merits. The photography is unmatched and the editing/structuring is extremely clever. Its an effective and pretty bewildering film, but on subsequent viewings this looks more like a barrage of cinematic tricks and literary devices rather than a study of human nature. All those dazzling stylistics are a knockout on a first viewing, but they also allow passive and ignorant viewers to vicariously enjoy the violence, like an action movie or a cartoon. Thats why this film is so popular. After having recently viewed Slumdog Millionaire, I seriously doubt this film's pretensions to realism. Though I'm sure its still far more factual than SM.
When you watch the film again with some care, you'll notice how contrived it really is. All films and all stories are contrived, I know, but there ARE films that overcome this problem. Even purely theatrical films like 'Glengarry Glen Ross' and 'Quiz Show' are far more realistic, convincing and illuminating than 'Cidade' ultimately manages to be. The filmmakers succeeded in their primary endeavor, but they forgot to stitch up the seams. Examples : In Brazil, motel = whorehouse. Rocket sleeping with the white journalist was ridiculous. And not being detected by the cops in that barely concealed hiding place was equally unbelievable. Also, the Runts kill Lil' Ze like what, FIVE SECONDS after the cops leave the place ??? Knockout Ned's death seems to be the hokey "violence-begets-violence" message you can expect from a film like this.
This is an unnerving, mind-boggling cinematic tour-de-force meant for one viewing only. Its exhilarating and visceral. But for me its not a perfect film because it doesn't make me think too deeply about any substantive non-filmic ideas. Surface shock seem to be the goal here, rather than any art or psychology. Also, the English chapter headings & subtitles (with Americanized slang) indicate that this was made with foreign viewers in mind, intended as a vehicle for voyeurism. It worked.