Review of Silver City (2004) by Andy F — 16 Feb 2005

I knew I wanted to see this film but I was sort of hesitant about it at first, simply because I didn't think I was ready for yet another tale of political corruption. As soon as I started watching the movie I was satisfied and severely mad at myself for almost not watching [i]Silver City[/i]. John Sayles has always offered up wonderful films that have his own signature feel. Just in the last 3 years alone he has made the greatly underrated films [i]Sunshine State[/i], [i]Casa De Los Babys[/i], and now this one, which is his best in a long time.

One thing Sayles is guaranteed to deliver is a never ending ensemble cast. This time around he gathers together the talents of Danny Huston, Maria Bello, Chris Cooper, Daryl Hannah, Kris Kristofferson, Mary Kay Place, Billy Zane, Thora Birch, Tim Roth, James Gammon, Richard Dreyfuss and more. He has written and edited the film in addition to directing, and what a great job he has done with it. Most of the actors have little but significant roles, with the only full fledged starring role going to the actor who gave three great performances in 2004, Danny Huston. I first saw this actor in Johnathan Glazer's underappreciated masterpiece [i]Birth [/i]and more recently in a little role in Scorsese's [i]The Aviator[/i]. I am glad Sayles chose to place Huston in a big role such as this, he has really shown what he can do as a main actor.

Huston's character as the investigator is the driving force behind the film, because through him not only the tale of corruption steadily flows, but his personal life comes into play and presents an entirely different storyline. Sayles has become a master of direction, and there are many mesmerizing takes throughout [i]Silver City[/i], but his writing shines above all here. Every single character has depth and is so interesting, and they're taken even further into likeable (or unlikeable) territory as these awesome actors bring them to life. Chris Cooper and Daryl Hannah are particularly intriguing in their roles, and Maria Bello and Huston prove to be a perfect on screen pair.

John Sayles is an underrated director. He's an old fashioned kind of filmmaker, relying on the purity of the script and the eccentricity of the cast and nothing else. These are the kind of films that are more exciting to watch than anything else, with huge talents in high form.