Watch City of Lies

City of Lies is an American crime thriller movie from 2018 directed by Brad Furman. The film is based on the non-fiction book LAbyrinth by Randall Sullivan, which covers the investigation into the murder of rap artist Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. The movie features an all-star cast with Johnny Depp as LAPD detective Russell Poole, Forest Whitaker as journalist Jack Jackson, and Toby Huss as Detective Fred Miller.

The story of City of Lies is set in the late 1990s, after the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. Poole is a seasoned detective who has been investigating the case for years. He is convinced that the LAPD is involved in the murder and that there is a conspiracy to cover up the truth. Jackson is a journalist who has been covering the case from its initial stages. He learns about Poole's theory and decides to help him uncover the truth.

The movie is structured around the investigation, which involves a lot of interviews with witnesses, other detectives, and key figures in the rap and music industry. Depp gives a solid performance as Poole, conveying the detective's frustration and obsession with the case. Whitaker is equally impressive as Jackson, portraying the journalist as a man who is determined to get to the bottom of the story.

One of the strengths of the movie is the way it presents the case as a complex web of relationships and interests. The murder of The Notorious B.I.G. is not just a crime, but a tragedy that involves many people on both sides of the law. The movie touches on some of the themes that are relevant to the story, such as racism, corruption, and the relationship between the police department and the black community.

The movie also does a good job of recreating the atmosphere of Los Angeles in the late 1990s, with its grimy streets, smoke-filled nightclubs, and neon signs. The soundtrack is also a highlight of the movie, featuring some of the biggest hits of the time from artists like Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre.

There are also some weaknesses in the movie. One of them is the pacing, as the movie can be slow at times. The investigation is complex and involves many characters, which can make it difficult to keep track of everything that is going on. Another weakness is the lack of depth in some of the secondary characters, who could have been more fleshed out.

Despite these flaws, City of Lies is a solid crime thriller that will keep viewers engaged until the end. The movie does a good job of presenting the investigation into the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. as a complex and emotional story, rather than just another crime that needs to be solved. Depp and Whitaker give good performances and the soundtrack is excellent. Fans of true crime stories and rap music will enjoy this movie.

City of Lies is a 2021 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 52 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 44.