City of Men
Miramax Films | Release Date: February 29, 2008 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
63
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
8
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
88
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
In many ways, City of Men is like a Portuguese-language version of David Simon's "The Wire." Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleRuthe Stein
A compelling and visually arresting drama. Read full review
75
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
It's energetic and occasionally inspired. Its gritty, sweaty, shiny feel deepens the case that there's a vital new essence to Brazilian cinema. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
Director Morelli and editor Daniel Rezende know how to set up complex lines of action and keep the screws tight. Read full review
75
Charlotte ObserverLawrence Toppman
The three leads all played these characters over multiple seasons on the TV show; they're comfortable in these skins, and they show that. (Confusingly, all three appeared in "City of God" under other characters' names.) Read full review
75
Seattle Post-IntelligencerBill White
Cunha and Silva, both featured in 2002's similarly themed "City of God," have been playing these roles since they were 13, and the rapport between them is electrifying. Much of the sweetness of the film comes from what they bring to their roles. Read full review
75
USA TodayClaudia Puig
A poignant look at the legacies of fathers who abdicate their responsibilities. Read full review
75
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
It's lighter, funnier and violent, and it's not entirely without hope, making this tale of survival under horrendous conditions far more suitable for younger, more impressionable audiences. Read full review
70
Film ThreatK.J. Doughton
Some might perceive City of Men as a slow film, while others could reasonably argue that Morelli is taking more time to develop characters. Read full review
70
VarietyDerek Elley
Despite its sudsy storyline, this second tour through the punk-infested Rio slums could attract more mature arthouse auds, drawn by character rather than the minutiae of guns 'n' drugs, though it's unlikely to match "God's" muscular $7.5 million U.S. take. Read full review
70
Washington PostJohn Anderson
So much emotional traffic streams through this City of Men that it's easy to miss a narrative turnoff. You won't get lost, but your sense of direction might be profoundly changed. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderJ.R. Jones
The story might have been lifted from an old Warner Brothers melodrama, though it's smartly paced, sincerely delivered, and consistently absorbing. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
As heavy with message as any Hollywood delinquent drama of the late '50s. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
City Of Men has its share of problems, but being too entertaining isn't one of them. Read full review
67
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
Intriguing. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
A mix of credible sociology and tired melodrama, along with a palpable sense of déjà vu. Because the plight of boyz 'n' the hood is a global tragedy, its depiction on the screen has become a global commonplace with its own attendant danger – the tragedy is starting to feel trite. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
The movie's power comes less from its contrived story than everything else: the stark setting, chaotic energy and authentic cast. Read full review
60
Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust
Morelli uses plentiful flashbacks drawn from the earlier movie and television series that are at times intrusive to the narrative but eventually serve to deepen the relationship of Ace and Laranjinha. Read full review
60
New York Magazine (Vulture)David Edelstein
City of Men is clunky and often contrived, but there’s something haunting about fatherless boys in a blighted place fumbling to teach themselves what it means to be a man. Read full review
60
Village VoiceJulia Wallace
Paulo Morelli directs capably, with a heavy dash of MTV-generation flair: hyper-saturated colors, close-ups of skin glittering with sweat, and a constant patter of gunfire that undergirds the soundtrack like a steady heartbeat. Read full review
60
The New York TimesStephen Holden
City of Men has a more humane, you might say bleeding-heart, perspective on this anarchic culture than “City of God.” Read full review
58
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
It's doubly disappointing that all the subplots about Ace and Wallace and their fathers intertwine in increasingly predictable ways. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
Six years after its release, "City of God" is still electrifying and fresh: It hasn't aged a bit. City of Men, though, already feels strangely stale. Read full review
50
New York PostV.A. Musetto
Performances are up to par, but the story unfolds conventionally - it lacks the fragmented fury of its predecessor. You might call it "City of God Lite." Read full review
50
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
The movie has a dramatic thinness, breezy tone, and unconvincing happy-ish ending that make it feel more inconsequential than anything about killers and imperiled children probably should. Read full review
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