Not Sayles’s strongest or most subtle work, but enjoyable if not only for Cooper’s uncanny Bush impression (it’s better if you close your eyes).
Silver City (2004)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:124
Fresh:59
Rotten:65
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: Heavy-handed and often dull.
Theatrical Release:Sep 17, 2004 Limited
Box Office: $872,141
Synopsis: During a gubernatorial race in small-town Colorado, a mystery is uncovered involving a dead body found in a local lake. A private detective, Danny (Danny Huston), is hired by the governor-to-be's... During a gubernatorial race in small-town Colorado, a mystery is uncovered involving a dead body found in a local lake. A private detective, Danny (Danny Huston), is hired by the governor-to-be's campaign manager (Richard Dreyfuss), who is worried that the unexpected event may be used as a scandal-maker by the opposition. But when Danny begins to investigate, he learns that business mogul Wes Benteen (Kris Kristofferson), is using the candidate, Dickie Pilager (Chris Cooper), to promote his moneymaking agenda. Director-writer-editor John Sayles weaves together multiple storylines involving environmental issues, political and corporate corruption, activism, illegal aliens, labor laws, and also a sweet love affair, simplifying it all into a cohesive and deeply enjoyable drama. He gets powerful performances from each cast member, making the characters shine in all of their nuanced intricacies. This strong film reflects on the presidency of George W. Bush in that candidate Pilager is a good-hearted Republican who lacks communications skills and a backbone, allowing regulation to lapse, power to be abused, and a scourge of long-term problems to be ignored. Meanwhile, SILVER CITY is a gripping whodunit, set in the still-dusty New West where old silver mines become real estate developments, and corporate tycoons attempt to privatize protected land for their own bounty. The immediate, effective supporting cast includes Daryl Hannah, Thora Birch, Tim Roth, Maria Bello, Sal Lopez, Miguel Ferrer, and Billy Zane. [More]
Starring: Danny Huston, Maria Bello, Billy Zane, Chris Cooper
Starring: Danny Huston, Maria Bello, Billy Zane, Chris Cooper, Richard Dreyfuss, Michael Murphy, Daryl Hannah, Kris Kristofferson, Mary Kay Place, David Clennon, Miguel Ferrer, Ralph Waite, Sal Lopez, James Gammon, Tim Roth, Thora Birch, Alma Delfina
Director: John Sayles
Director: John Sayles
Screenwriter: John Sayles
Producer: Maggie Renzi
Composer: Mason Daring
Studio: Newmarket Films
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Reviews for Silver City
Fiction can be better satire (of the current administration) than documentary.
Sayles, one of the brightest and most literate voices among American independents, has made one of his best and most important movies.
At times, Silver City feels like a collection of scenes in which characters do little more than discuss the plot.
A pastiche of Chinatown and the deeply sarcastic ensemble satires of Robert Altman...Cooper's English-mangling version of George W. is a certified hoot
More expository than the lovely, fragile Sunshine State, the slow-burning Silver City may be equally spare but has none of its southern comfort.
A hit-and-miss affair, commendable for its intricate, unpredictable storytelling but frustrating that it all adds up to a poof of smoke and a wink at the viewer.
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August 16, 2005:
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