No matter what you think of "This City" – Amit Ullman's cinematic debut, based on his successful cult show that ran on stages for more than a decade – there is no argument about one thing: you have never seen such an Israeli film.
Basically, this is a Hebrew-speaking detective film noir. But the twist (or gimmick, if you will) is that the entire film, from start to finish, is served with spoken and rhymed vocals, making it a "rap opera" (according to its creators, the Victor Jackson Band, at least). The result is original, ambitious, brilliant at times, and most importantly - surprising, funny and very entertaining.
Jimbo Jay and Amit Ullman, from the film, cinematography: Misha Platinsky
Ullman himself stars in the title role as Joe, an unsuccessful (or particularly nice) private detective who is hired by a mysterious woman from the past (Moriah Akons) to find her missing sister. Together with his affable and loyal partner Jack (Omar "Jimbo Jay" the excellent Baron), Joe sets out to investigate. However, things soon escalate into murder, and it turns out that behind the mystery lies the city's biggest criminal, a menacing character named Menashe. How will Joe get out of this?
Despite the modest budget (the project was partly funded by the Headstart campaign), Ullman and his talented partners in crime (including cinematographer Misha Platinsky and editor Eyal Sibi) manage to put together a tight, stylish and meticulously designed film that makes the most of the limited conditions available to them.
The costumes and sets do their job optimally and do their part to create the dark atmosphere, and although the staging is careful to be direct and devoid of unnecessary wisdom, it is dynamic and confident enough to sweep the viewers into the artificial (and rhymed) world built on the screen.
The script itself – signed by Ullman, Baron and music producer Omer "Itzik Bombati" Mor – is full of jokes, sophistry, puns, and yes, a classic detective plot, and it's clear that the guys are very familiar with the genre in which they operate. The supporting actors, for their part, all do a great job and spice up the film with a variety of faces and voices (in this sense Idan Alterman, Alon Neumann and Jeremy "Jermaya" Omni are particularly outstanding).
And how are the songs, you ask? Great. That is, there were those I liked more, and those I loved less. But I liked all of them to one degree or another, they all make loving and creative use of the Hebrew language, they all fit naturally and fluently into the flow of the film, and many lines of them continued to buzz in my head in the days after watching (especially the line "Dam, how science has progressed!")
Congratulations to Allman, LeBron and Moore for their unique and courageous vision. If there is justice in the world, "This City" will be the hit of the summer.
Score: 8
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