City of God, I actually saw over a year ago, and upon reviewing past articles, it occurred to me that I'd never written a review. I saw this brilliant picture shortly after writing my 2002 best of list, and truth be told, it would have been one of my favorites of the year had I seen it in time.

There seems to be all kinds of speculation as to when City of God was actually released. It was eligible for a Best Foreign Film Oscar last year,
but for whatever reason, it didn't receive a nomination. So this year, it was surprisingly and deservedly nominated in major categories including director, writing, editing and cinematography.

This raw, violent, unsettling look at Brazillian slumlords is expertly crafted and extremely powerful in it's gritty depiction of youth gone bad. Certainly, the similarities to Goodfellas is apparent, but City of God has a tone all it's own.

What's most impressive is that directors Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund cast mostly unknowns with no acting experience, adding realism and an incredibly natural vibe to this epic piece of unforgettable cinema. The entire cast shines with unrelenting power, but it is Leandro Firmino who leaves the biggest impression with his brutal, spontaneous, high energy turn as gangster Little Ze.

I had never heard of Fernando Meirelles or Katia Lund before this film, but it's safe to say that we'll be seeing a lot more from them in the future
(currently, Meirelles is working on his American film debut The Constant Garden). Not only are these film makers amazing with their cast, but
they've also fashioned one beautiful looking film on what was reportedly a tight budget. In particular, I'd like to mention the breathtaking
cinematography and the brilliant editing, both of which add so much to this thrillingly exhausting film.

City of God has recently been re-released in select theaters and will soon make it's DVD and Video debut. It's a riveting, passionate, rich film
experience that is everything you've heard and more. If you have the opportunity to see it on the big screen, go. If not, this is one you'll definitely want to check out on DVD.

I don't know if City of God will bag any Oscars, but I'm extremely happy that the Academy recognized the film, even though it certainly was a surprise.