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I saw Cat City at a film festival. I love noir thrillers but Cat City fell quite a bit short. The plot is predictable. The dialog isn't sharp at all. And the acting in a couple of the major roles is wooden. Dennehy is fine as a retired police officer now doing PI work but he doesn't get a lot of screen time. Julian Sands was also good as a real estate guy up to no good. The two major roles that were poorly acted were Rebecca Pidgeon as Sands wife -- she's very wooden -- and William Shockey as a dot com millionaire. Shockey got screenplay credit too.

It's the kind of movie you'd kick yourself over paying to see at a cinema because it's simply not that good. Tellingly, it appears to be going straight to cable. If you catch it on cable you might pass a pleasant enough hour or two, but it won't stand up well against any good film noir movie.

"Cat City" is a well written movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. It is anything but predictable as the director, Brent Huff, takes you on a roller coaster ride of greed, deceit, and revenge. The cinematography is outstanding with clever camera angles, beautiful scenery, and consistent theme throughout. The cast does an excellent job portraying the characters and captivating the audience. I was especially impressed with Shawn Huff's performance as "the other woman" and of course, Brian Dennehey. This film keeps you on your toes while providing non-stop entertainment. I would highly recommend viewing "Cat City."

...even tho I had to watch this film dubbed by Amazon to Spanish, something that was about to make me skip it, I was almost immediately grabbed by the slowly developing plot. (are you getting this, Amazon? Dubbing is for illiterate morons, invest in subs).

True, what the rate busters say it is predictable, the acting is cardboard cliche sometimes but it's not so evident and keeps you watching until the end which, for me at least, was a coin in the air.

Since this isn't going to be aired in any theater anywhere at this time, do watch it; I assure you it will be worth your time. Oh, and watch it 'til the end, the two closing songs are prime musical material.

In sum, a solid indie, 7/10.

I give props to the Huffs, they have a lot of really good friends to come on IMDb and sing the praises of this film. One tip for next time, maybe don't have EVERYBODY give it 8 to 10 stars and declare it a modern-day indie Out of the Past because it looks that much more conspicuous for a movie in which the leads don't even seem interested. In fairness, I have never seen Rebecca Pidgeon actually convince me she isn't acting, because she doesn't do it well, but that may be a particular style honed working with Mamet. The only thing to recommend this is Dennehy and he doesn't get nearly enough screen time. Anyway, friends (or hirelings) of the Huffs, just for down the line, a little moderation goes a long way when working the con.

(full disclosure: director Brent Huff also directed "Serbian Scars," for which I wrote the screenplay) Film noir is alive and well in "Cat City," a twist-filled thriller that offers up some nice performances and a solid story. Victoria (Rebecca Pidgeon, shining in the lead) is pretty sure her land developer husband Nick (Jeremy Irons) is cheating on her. She hires ex-cop Brian Dennehy to confirm her suspicions, leading to far more than just infidelity. Their new house guest (Alano Massi, in a breakout performance) only complicates things, including revelations surrounding a failed casino project (the "Cathedral City" of the title) and a crooked politician. Before all is said is done guns are drawn, blood is spilled, and the briefcase full of millions ends up changing the lives of more than one person.

Despite its modest budget, "Cat City" does a good job of capturing the feel of a modern updating of the classic double-cross flicks of the 40s and 50s. Director Huff keeps the camera moving, which helps with a script that's heavy on dialog. Pidgeon is great as the smart and sexy wife at the center of things, as is Shawn Huff as the other woman. While Massi takes a little getting used to (the facial hair can only do so much to age a baby face), he has a nice presence and a ton of potential. And Dennehy is excellent as always, a guy who's so effortless at what he does it keeps everyone around him on their toes. Only Julian Sands seems to struggle at times, with his accent coming and going during his quirky take on what's usually the "cad husband who's up to no good" role. However special props go out to William Shockley (who co-wrote the script with Huff and Douglas Walton) - his turn as a Senator on the take might only be for one scene, but it's one of the best supporting turns I've seen in ages. I'd love to see him back in this role and given the whole stage to explore the character.

All in all a solid noir thriller that makes the best of a limited budget by featuring some great locations and even better performances. 8 out of 10.