City of Hope (1991)

93% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(1,025 ratings)

A city pulses with racial problems, political corruption, and small-time crime in this ambitious microcosm of urban life, written and directed by John Sayles. Nick Rinaldi (Vincent Spano), a lost soul usually high on drink and drugs, has spent his life in one New Jersey city, getting free rides from… More A city pulses with racial problems, political corruption, and small-time crime in this ambitious microcosm of urban life, written and directed by John Sayles. Nick Rinaldi (Vincent Spano), a lost soul usually high on drink and drugs, has spent his life in one New Jersey city, getting free rides from his connected father (Tony LoBianco) and hearing the locals talk of his brother's death in Vietnam. Searching for more control, Nick quits the cushy contractor's job provided by his Dad, feeling that major events are about to happen to him. That feeling proves accurate -- by film's end his life will change, as will the lives of many others. Nick is only the center of the movie's sprawling collection of people and plotlines; Sayles takes full advantage of this expansive landscape, as he often begins shooting one conversation, only to pull back and eavesdrop on another, in one smooth, intriguing shot. By listening in, we slowly learn about the citizens and their dilemmas, as the city's woes bubble to a narrative climax. Many of Sayles' regular players are on-screen (the movie features 52 roles), including Joe Morton as a frustrated councilman and David Strathairn as a disturbed street person. ~ Norm Schrager, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 9 min.
Directed By: John Sayles
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Oct 11, 1991 Wide
On DVD: May 20, 1992
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Company

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though flawed, Sayles' most ambitious film to date confronts modern America as it is beset with explosive racial and class tensions, escalating crime, political corruption, and police brutality.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A rare Sayles misstep that lets the message overrule the material.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A powerful and profound film about what is wrong with our cities and what it will take to save them.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A closed circle of aspiration and compromise, simple hopes impossibly complicated by the stark realities of life in a kind of wartime.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
I found the romance between Spano and Williams to be very believable and moving.
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A great dance that Sayles choreographs

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

Sayles best work by far. Simply an amazing film, a must for fans of the Wire. The fact this isn't available on DVD is proof of a cruel uncaring god.
Brian R

This is a good movie. A film that tackles racial problems, politics, corruption, protests, and urban life. "City Of Hope" is the American microcosm where all these diffrent stories and where most of the characters bump into one another. Sort of like taking all these… More
This is a good movie. A film that tackles racial problems, politics, corruption, protests, and urban life. "City Of Hope" is the American microcosm where all these diffrent stories and where most of the characters bump into one another. Sort of like taking all these ingridents and adding it into the stirring pot. Filmmaker John Sayles has taken this interconnected story that would remind one of the works of Robert Altman, Paul Thomas Anderson or Paul Haggis. Cinematographer Robert Richardson photographs with his trademark of using a bright key light shinning vividly on the cast and uses reds, yellows and other sources of lights to enhance the story. It's funny to also see Richardson in a small cameo scene as one of the convicts sitting silently at a police precinct. John Sayles also plays a part in the picture as Carl. A corrupted mechanic who wants piece of the action. Sayles's performace is chillingly frieghtning and brilliant adding another layer in the city of hope. A city pulses with racial problems, political corruption, and small-time crime in this ambitious microcosm of urban life, written and directed by John Sayles. Nick Rinaldi (Vincent Spano), a lost soul usually high on drink and drugs, has spent his life in one New Jersey city, getting free rides from his connected father (Tony LoBianco) and hearing the locals talk of his brother's death in Vietnam. Searching for more control, Nick quits the cushy contractor's job provided by his Dad, feeling that major events are about to happen to him. That feeling proves accurate -- by film's end his life will change, as will the lives of many others. Nick is only the center of the movie's sprawling collection of people and plotlines; Sayles takes full advantage of this expansive landscape, as he often begins shooting one conversation, only to pull back and eavesdrop on another, in one smooth, intriguing shot. By listening in, we slowly learn about the citizens and their dilemmas, as the city's woes bubble to a narrative climax. Many of Sayles' regular players are on-screen (the movie features 52 roles), including Joe Morton as a frustrated councilman and David Strathairn as a disturbed street person.
Anthony V

Another great Sayles ensemble cast piece.

Cast

            Vincent Spano as Nick Rinaldi

            Joe Morton as Wynn

            Tony Lo Bianco as Joe Rinaldi

            Anthony John Denison as Rizzo

            Barbara Williams as Angela

            John Sayles as Carl

            Bill Raymond as Les

            Angela Bassett as Reesha

            Chris Cooper as Riggs

            Gloria Foster as Jeanette

            Josh Mostel as Mad Anthony

            Jace Alexander as Bobby

            Ray Aranha as Errol

            Bernard Canepari as Stroczyk

            Dale Carman as Roger

            Jude Ciccolella as Paddy

            Miriam Colon as Mrs. Ramirez

            Tony Davis as Kyle

            Jon De Vries as Dean Milford

            Darryl Edwards as Franklin

            Frankie Faison as Levonne

            Gina Gershon as Laurie

            Todd Graff as Zip

            Rose Gregorio as Pina

            John Griesemer as Thomas

            Joe Grifasi as Pauly

            Serafin Jovet as Ramirez

            Maeve Kinkead as Christine

            S.J. Lang as Bauer

            Marianne Leone as Joann

            Eileen Lynch as Dawn

            Michael Mantell as Zimmer

            Randle Mell as Simms

            Stephen Mendillo as Yoyo

            Olga Merediz as Nidia

            Bob North as District Attorney

            Steve Randazzo as Gus

            Blair Shannon as Security Guard

            Jojo Smollett as Desmond

            David Strathairn as Asteroid

            Lawrence Tierney as Kerrigan

            Kevin Tighe as O'Brien

            Scott Tiler as Vinnie

            Jaime Tirelli as Fuentes

            Edward Jay Townsend Jr. as Tito

            Ginny Yang as Suzanne

            Charlie Yanko as Stavros

            Louis Zorich as Mayor Baci

            Mason K. Daring as Peter

            John Farris as Kevin

            Maggie Renzi as Connie

            Tom Wright as Malik

            Barbara Hewson Shapiro
            
See full cast