City of Hope (1991)

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

In this movie, ambition overreaches result, and the usually clear-sighted John Sayles flounders. There are moments of brilliance, as when the camera turns sharply to pick up new threads in the sprawling interweave of city intrigue that composes the central theme. But the sprawl ultimately proves too unwieldy for even Sayles' considerable talent. I only wish he had succeeded. The backdoor machinery of city politics needs sensitive treatment of the kind Sayles can deliver. But the script falters and the characters seldom rise above uninteresting stereotype. If its true that too many cooks spoil the soup, it's also true that too many soups spoil the cook, no matter how versatile the latter. Here, director-producer-writer-actor Sayles simply raises more urban issues than he deals with effectively: police corruption, brutality, racism, homophobia, kick-backs, drugs, influence peddling, organized crime, with a symbolic love story thrown in - in short, the whole 9 yards that keeps cities operating. Unfortunately, the end result is a force field that pulls apart rather than brings together, making the whole effort appear pointless.Too bad, because such unconventional scope requires unconventional methods of the type Sayles attempts. But I'm not sure it's possible to force such a life-sized tapestry into an ordinary two-hour time frame. Perhaps something on the order of a Godfather trilogy with a central focus on the Nicky character would accommodate the filmmaker's expansive vision. Trouble is, political mavericks and independents like Sayles seldom get the financing necessary for following through. Looks like he may be consigned to work the fringes in the brilliant and committed fashion of Matewan and Eight Men Out, for which there is nevertheless always an audience.

This has become one of my favorite movies, and I am happy to see it return to cable showings. Because of the large ensemble cast, I think that it benefits from more than one viewing. I am struck by the contrast among the characters trying to their best despite hardships (Wynn, Angela, Jeanette, who is Desmond's mother, Les, who has been mugged, and Nidia, on council with Wynn), characters who mean well but ultimately fail (Joe is the classic), and characters corrupted beyond redemption (Carl-- and I love it that Sayles gave himself the nastiest character, assistant D.A. Zimmer, Mayor Baci, and O'Brien-- Kevin Tighe must be Sayles' favorite sleaze-ball). And where will Nick end up if he survives? It is interesting to see actors again in Sayles' films (Chris Cooper-- always good, Joe Morton, Angela Bassett, Tom Wright-- the ultra-activist-- did anyone else recognize him as Flash Phillips from "Sunshine State?", and David Straithairn-- what a role for him!) Errol, the retired mayor who advises Wynn on the golf course, has some very interesting things to say that bear attention. Just how does one lead? And how does one become a leader without compromising himself? Where is that line drawn? Music is used effectively as well. I like whatever it is that is playing on Vinnie's boom box at the end when Nick comes to Carl's shop to confront him (I can't read the titles on the red credits at the end, and they don't appear on the IMDb). And I love the Neville Brothers' "Fearless" at the end. Perfect.Watch this movie.

Some people complain about the number of subplots:That's precisely what makes this movie so original and so endearing.This is a small microcosm of characters we follow during two hours without getting bored.Sometimes the director leaves two people talking for two other ones in the same sequence:this technique is an update of what William Wyler used to do notably in "detective story" (1952) and even "best years of our lives"(1946).The sequences are very short and are intertwined with skill;the cast is uniformly good,with Tony LoBianco as the stand-out.This is a very interesting movie ,focusing on such important subjects as responsibility,honesty and dignity.Really worthwhile.

This is supposed to be a story about - well, it's not really aboutanything - but it does have a whole mess of standard New Jerseystereotypes so I assume it is supposed to be about the grittyunderside of city corruption and the Political Machine.I think.Anyway, save your money, buy the Springsteen box set - or at leastthe greatest hit CD - because in 3 minutes of Springsteen you'llget a better understanding of blue collar northeastness than in all100 or whatever minutes of this film.Yo Nicky!