Cidade de Mentiras

Watching this movie, you can't help but wonder how far from the truth the events you're watch really are..? After watching it, I undertook some google couch investigation into some of the names and events. Having been in my late teens during the Tupac/Biggy shootings I was pretty familiar with the happenings and headlines at the time and this movie is pretty much true to form in timeline, events, and players. It is a shame that it was shelved. Deserves better...

I won´t go into details of the plot, since it can be found in the description of the movie. Whitaker is outstanding in this movie imo. His natural performance and presence gives life and authenticity to the character of journalist Jack Jackson. Johnny Depp is a surprise. Playing the aging retired police officer Russell Poole, his performance is well balanced, reduced and dedicated to capture the truth of Poole´s ambition and motivation. Whitaker and Depp harmonize, and it shows in the dialogues between Jackson and Poole. Two outstanding actors in an ambitioned movie about a timeless subject: finding truth in a swamp of lies.

I mean the wait for the movie to finally being released. As you can see the year this states is 2018 - yet it is 2021 when this finally has a release I can finally watch. Not sure what the reason for the delay was. I doubt it was the subject matter or anything controversial that is in it. But blaming the things that went on in Johnny Depps private life also seems to vague to be true.

Whatever is true, I'm glad this was finally released. I reckon this does not have much that those who are in the subject matter would not know about. It is an easy entry point for those who are only familiar with some vague dates and incidents that happened. The structure is very well done and easy to access too. Acting is great and there are connections being made that are very likely to paint a picture of what happened back then ... even when you can not be sure of everything ... and it does concentrate more on the case of Christopher Wallace (better known as Notorious BIG) rather than take up the Tupac Shakur case - the latter is being talked about, but only to then again shine more light on the other case.

Whittaker and Depp are a great pair and the supporting case is incredible too. Playing broken characters ... who seem to be fighting against windmills (yes you've probably heard that analogy before). Tension filled from start to finish ... and still frustrating most of the time too ... there is no easy way in or out and only the fact remains that we lost two of the greatest rappers of all time - probably for or over nothing.

Really good film showing the real life of what really went on beneath the surface of the hip hop industry a must see film Depp and Whitaker pulled it off as usual.

This is a gripping crime thriller about corruption in LAPD. Johnny Depp gave an exceptional performance here after Black Mass. Forest Whitaker did well too. It has shades of JFK movie, but couldn't achieve that greatness. This movie should have been released, it's a shame that it got stuck due to controversy. More people should watch this movie.