City by the Sea

R

Released Sep 6, 2002

1h 48m

Crime

Drama

List

48%

Tomatometer

144 Reviews

40%

Audience Score

10,000+ Ratings

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.

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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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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

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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

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Michael Caton-Jones

Director

Robert De Niro

Detective Vincent Lamarca

Frances McDormand

Michelle

James Franco

Joey LaMarca

Eliza Dushku

Gina

William Forsythe

Spyder

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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: Michael Caton-Jones, Brad Grey, Elie Samaha, Matthew Baer
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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