This is as real as it gets...

Rating: 10/10 (17 April 2007)

I must confess that I had no idea whatsoever about the movie before I saw it. Thanks to Adlabs Olive Entertainment, who have brought quality international cinema in my city, Pune.
By the title, and posters I could figure out that it is somebody's life story and struggles. But haven't we seen so many of them already? So, what makes this movie different from the rest. The answer, I believe lies in the charecterisation. Each and every character in the film seems to be carved with intricate care, and all of them have a story to tell. The story begins with our protagonist, who is stuck in a cross-fire between police and hoodlums, and has no intention of running away because he knows well that in the City of God, if you run, you get shot. Then begin a series of flashbacks, which tell the story of Rocket and his humble life and humble ambitions. Of how, when everyone in his neighbourhood he knew dreamed of becoming a gangster, he was smitten by the shutterbug. Even as he grows, his school and his mates become his sanctuary and he does not allow himself to be drowned in the growing bloodshed and drugs that is prevalent in the City of God. His desires were simple but mellow.Like owning a camera one day, or losing his virginity to Angelica. Li'l Dice and Benny are two best friends who land up becoming the toughest hoodlums in the city. Li'l Dice is ruthless, has ideas, over-ambitious, and ugly. Benny on the other hand is the cool-head. He is the only one who can influence Li'l Dice. In fact Benny comes to be called as the coolest hoodlum in the City of God. Together, they were in a way indestructible. But when Benny decides to leave, Li'l Dice loses his head. In his rage, he picks on Knockout-Ned, an ex-armyman. He rapes his girlfriend, and kills his uncle and cousin. Knockout-Ned, then seeks revenge and there are some foes of Li'l Dice who will help him out. Then begins the bloodiest gang-war, in which the city is divided, and new recruits join in on either side, for the most petty of all reasons. Its great to see Karma at work here, when Knockout-Ned gets shot by his own recruits, because Knockout-Ned had shot his father in a bank robbery. As for Li'l Dice, he has lost everything. His gang, his friend Benny, and all his wealth to the police. He seeks to begin again, but is cut short by a gang of wannabe hoodlum kids, who follow Li'l Dice's own idea of eliminating all competition and taking over existing businesses. Everyone's dead, but for our protagonist, who has all the pictures, and a job as an intern at the newspaper.
This movie is a must watch. As far as gangster movies go, this should way on top. Even above Godfather, because truth is far more stranger than fiction.