City of Hope 06/08/24

A previously scarce John Sayles films surfaces in a beautiful widescreen edition. Cynicism and frustration pits Hudson City against itself, in a story of civic trouble that echoes Bruce Springsteen’s laments for America’s crumbling towns and cities. Builder Tony Lo Bianco is in hock to the Mob, and can’t pretend he’s not part of the fix; activist councilman Joe Morton is marginalized by the politicos, while his constituency accuses him of selling out. Disaffected yout Vincent Spano turns to petty crime. John Sayles’ sprawling but smartly-told story gathers his regular actors in an ensemble with at least 30 speaking roles that flesh out a portrait of a city ‘divided against itself.’ On Blu-ray from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
06/08/24