Cidade dos Homens (City of Men) (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Phil H

  
  To be honest I was let down with this, after the harrowing, depressing kill fest of the original this is actually pretty tame. Not much killing and not much action either, there's alot of talk and plot layout which is fine but you do find your mind starting to wander haha The… More
  To be honest I was let down with this, after the harrowing, depressing kill fest of the original this is actually pretty tame. Not much killing and not much action either, there's alot of talk and plot layout which is fine but you do find your mind starting to wander haha The cast are all excellent along with the locations and sweaty, grimy, run down look of the whole film, its so realistic it puts you off wanting to go anywhere near Brazil for a holiday ;) Some of the scenery is truely amazing though. Overall its quite boring until the final sequence but even that is average, and then its over all too quick. Not a bad film but not really engaging either.

• Carlos M

  
  A worthy follow-up and conclusion to the TV series, but unfairly shadowed by the impact and greatness of Cidade de Deus. The two long-time friends now deal with problems that are more compelling than before, and they even get caught up in a war between rival gangs that could cost them… More
  A worthy follow-up and conclusion to the TV series, but unfairly shadowed by the impact and greatness of Cidade de Deus. The two long-time friends now deal with problems that are more compelling than before, and they even get caught up in a war between rival gangs that could cost them their friendship.

• xGary X

  
  As two friends from the slums of Rio approach their 18th birthdays, a war between two gangs tears their community apart. Continuing the themes of City Of God, City Of Men takes up the story of life in the Brazilian ghetto as the boys become "men", brought up in an society… More
  As two friends from the slums of Rio approach their 18th birthdays, a war between two gangs tears their community apart. Continuing the themes of City Of God, City Of Men takes up the story of life in the Brazilian ghetto as the boys become "men", brought up in an society where the family unit is all but defunct. Girls have to grow up at a very young age in an environment where they have no access to contraception and no money for abortion clinics, made pregnant by boys who have no roots, no emotional connections or sense of responsibility as they grew up without role models, having been brought up fatherless themselves and left to fend alone on the dog eat dog streets while their mothers go out to work. The film has the same combination of excellent visuals, intelligent characterisation and amazingly naturalistic performances of the original. It doesn't quite have the same sense of complexity or originality of City Of God, but does once again manage to create a real sense of what it must be like to grow up on these mean streets, showing the incredibly tense gun battles through the darkened slums as anything but glamorous and appealing. It does share the same underlying message as well; if the cycle is not broken, then history will continue repeating itself and nothing will ever change.

• Gordon A

  
  Episodic collection of tales which offer a fascinating further insight into favela life in the vain of 'City of God'. Runs out of original plots in the later episodes but there are some clever gems.

• Aaron N

  
  Ace: Now there are just the two of us. Following the success of the brilliant film, City of God, a spinoff TV show was created in Brazil, which ran for four seasons. This film follows the same main characters from the show to give audiences a new story set in the modern day Rio… More
  Ace: Now there are just the two of us. Following the success of the brilliant film, City of God, a spinoff TV show was created in Brazil, which ran for four seasons. This film follows the same main characters from the show to give audiences a new story set in the modern day Rio slums. The story revolves around Wallace and Ace, two lifelong friends, both living in the slums, getting by. Both are about to turn 18 and fatherless. Ace is a young husband and father and Wallace is the nephew of a local gang leader. One plot strand revolves around Wallace finding his father and developing a relation with him, as well as learning about his past. Another deals with incidents that create issue between the two best friends. This is mainly due to a gang war that erupts and splits the town apart. Going in to this, it was easy for me to know that this film would not match the brilliance that is City of God. However, this is still a well made and effective film. While City of God worked its way through a few decades, kept in line by its rapid pace, strong acting and visual style, great soundtrack, and overall kinetic spark that gave great life to the film, City of Men works more as a straight forward narration that still benefits from a good visual sense and strong performances. The film is not as much about portraying the kinds of issues that have plagued this area of Rio or showing the various characters and the numerous connections they have to the city. The film is much more a drama as well, while City of God was able to inject a good amount of humor and energy throughout, this film certainly dwells in its darkness. These things do not make it a bad film, it certainly does the job, it just isn't as fresh and certainly sits in the zone of comparison to the original film. Well done film, but lacks a spark. Ace: [he and Wallace are holding Clayton's hand] Clayton, don't worry 'cause I'm gonna teach you all I know. Let's cross. Wallace: Okay. Ace: Clayton, before you cross the street, you have to look both ways. First this way, then that way. Let's go.

• Rico Z

  
  City of Men (the sequel to City of God) manages to be a great deal better than its predecessor. This movie, like the previous, continues the theme of showing the hard life that kids have growing up in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. But where this films surpasses the first is in its… More
  City of Men (the sequel to City of God) manages to be a great deal better than its predecessor. This movie, like the previous, continues the theme of showing the hard life that kids have growing up in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. But where this films surpasses the first is in its portrayal of a more human characters. In City of God, the boys were ruthless, soulless killers. In City of Men, although still ruthless, cold-blooded killers, they are portrayed with a little bit more humanity. They are more well-rounded characters with a backstory that makes them relatable and, in some ways, worthy of sympathy. Usually, I hate movies that are tinged with such violent tones and themes, but this managed to keep me hooked and caring for the characters whose lives I was watching unfold before me. The most poignant thing about it was knowing that, although fictional in plot, the stories seen onscreen must certainly happen in real life--and that makes the film transcend gratuitous violence status.

• Ken S

  
  Diet City of God

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]"City of Men" starts with Midnight(Jonathan Haagensen) wanting to go down to the beach. It is a lot harder than it sounds because he is actually a gangster who has not left his perch on Dead End Hill in three years. But everything is eventually cleared… More
  [font=Century Gothic]"City of Men" starts with Midnight(Jonathan Haagensen) wanting to go down to the beach. It is a lot harder than it sounds because he is actually a gangster who has not left his perch on Dead End Hill in three years. But everything is eventually cleared for him to go and he proceeds with his entourage trailing behind him. Bored, his cousin Wallace(Darlan Cunha) follows in his wake with his best friend Ace(Douglas Silva) and his young son Clayton. Wallace is almost 18 and is so obsessed with finding his father, that the two bolt from the beach to follow up a lead, leaving Clayton behind. Midnight's problems are no less insignificant as he has to punish a criminal act of stupidity.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"City of Men" is a visually arresting crime melodrama with a huge contrivance that never quite manages to tie its two competing storylines together. What would have been more effective is if it would have been more about the neighborhood residents living in a constant state of siege in the shadow of the crime lords with little help from the police while not sensationalizing the violence in the bargain. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]As depicted, the gangs are a welcome haven for those who grow up without fathers. But considering Wallace and Ace grew up without fathers and turned out okay, then it might not be the worst thing in the world. By the way, I think missing fathers are a product of abject poverty, not the other way around. In the end, I will leave the moralizing to those who can afford to.[/font]

• William G

  
  All the original elements of City of God, only condensed, contrived, and unsatisfying.

• Jonny C

  
  Good movie from Brazil. City of Men is about 2 best friends Acerola and Laranjinha, who are about to turn 18. They both discover things about their missing fathers' pasts which will shatter their solid friendship, in the middle of a war between rival drug gangs from Rio's… More
  Good movie from Brazil. City of Men is about 2 best friends Acerola and Laranjinha, who are about to turn 18. They both discover things about their missing fathers' pasts which will shatter their solid friendship, in the middle of a war between rival drug gangs from Rio's favelas. It's well acted with a solid storyline. It may not be as good as City of God, but it still packs a punch.

• Alex F

  
  As a (soul) sequel of City of God, it's not enough. Still, it's a good movie.

• Anastasia B

  
  excellent. unmissable. recommended with no hesitation whatsoever

Read all 12 featured audience ratings