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      City by the Sea

      R Released Sep 6, 2002 1h 48m Crime Drama List
      48% 144 Reviews Tomatometer 40% 10,000+ Ratings Audience Score When a respected New York homicide detective (Robert De Niro) discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son (James Franco), he is forced to return home to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island to confront the darkness of his past. During the course of the investigation, he realizes that his failures as a father - and his unresolved anguish about the painful estrangement - have deeply influenced his son's life. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Dec 20 Buy Now

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      City by the Sea

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      Critics Consensus

      Even though the movie is well acted, it sinks under an abundance of melodrama and cliches.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Tony M I really like this lesser known DeNiro flick. I like the story and the acting. A good movie that's well worth a watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/31/23 Full Review Jeffrey P Not quite sure why this was so buried that I didn't hear about it until 2023. Main fault that comes to mind is that the son should have been the lead and not the father. Regardless, I felt it was a solid enough story with decent acting that mostly rings true before the dramatic flare ending. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/26/23 Full Review Ashley H City By The Sea is a disappointing film. It is about a respected New York homicide detective who discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son. Robert de Niro and James Franco give horrible performances. The script is badly written. Michael Caton-Jones did a terrible directing this movie. I was not impressed with this motion picture. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/04/23 Full Review Jelisije J A movie that deals with the trial of fatherhood and abandonment. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Under the radar cop drama with a good, understated performance from De Niro. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review dave j The figure of speech name "City By the Sea" is another name New Yorkers call "Long Beach" an area where Joey (James Franco) and is a drug user or drug dealer used to grow up and has been estranged from his actual father, a New York police officer Vincent (Robert De Niro) for a very long time. And as a result of a suspected murder of a drug dealer somehow is able to reunite them together. Frances McDormand also co-stars as Michelle another tenant living in the same building as Vincent. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Nell Minow Common Sense Media Ambitious, improbable and very violent cop drama. Rated: 3/5 Dec 22, 2010 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 3/5 Jun 22, 2003 Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com It doesn't help that much of City by the Sea plays so precisely lock step in the same order as so many other policiers. It's difficult to muster up much excitement as the film lurches to its pre-ordained conclusion. Rated: 2.5/4 Jun 19, 2003 Full Review Micheal Compton Bowling Green Daily News It all adds up to a moving film that may not be unforgettable, but it is memorable nonetheless. Nov 15, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: C Jan 4, 2013 Full Review Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed It's a shame that the source material and filmmakers manage to waste all the talented actors in this project. Apr 29, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis When a respected New York homicide detective (Robert De Niro) discovers the prime suspect in a murder case is his estranged son (James Franco), he is forced to return home to the decaying boardwalks of Long Beach, Long Island to confront the darkness of his past. During the course of the investigation, he realizes that his failures as a father - and his unresolved anguish about the painful estrangement - have deeply influenced his son's life.
      Director
      Michael Caton-Jones
      Producer
      Andrew Stevens, Dan Klores, Don Carmody, Roger Paradiso
      Screenwriter
      Ken Hixon, Michael Caton-Jones
      Distributor
      Warner Bros. Pictures
      Production Co
      Franchise Pictures, Sea Breeze Productions Inc., Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
      Rating
      R (Language|Drug Use|Some Violence)
      Genre
      Crime, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Sep 6, 2002, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Sep 1, 2008
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $22.4M
      Runtime
      1h 48m
      Sound Mix
      Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
      Aspect Ratio
      Scope (2.35:1)
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