Alistair is hounded by Bianca’s goons, who what him to sign over his inheritance, but instead joins Nazim’s Mosque and donates large sums of money to the Islamic Brotherhood. Bianca goes to extreme lengths to “convince” him to sign everything over to her.
If you love crime dramas, you need not look any further than Paradise City. The movie exposes its indie hand here and there. The acting is a little stilted, like crime stories of old. There’s also a noir feel as things get bad before getting worse (yes, I wrote that right). It plays out like a modern pulp fiction novel.
“…tells a story that’s complex, engaging, and a real rollercoaster ride.”
I have not seen such a fresh, new take on the genre in quite a while. New York is synonymous with crime dramas, and there’s plenty to choose from. First, I love that in Lopez’s film, the storytelling is the star. The narrative is of cops and injustice, a political movement, and corporate intrigue. Jimmy is caught between doing his job and potentially framing an honest man. Nazim is a man who found salvation from Islam and is caught between its message of peace and suppressing a violent need for justice as the police are framing him. Alistair is caught between a tragic past and his soon-to-be tragic demise. Writer/director Lopez tells a story that’s complex, engaging, and a real rollercoaster ride. Paradise City looks like it takes place in New York City and feels like the Big Apple (from the perspective of this West Coaster).
The other best aspect, aside from the story, is the acting. Let me call out Petrovski and Bradley’s performances. Petrovski is pure energy on screen. As Alistair, he starts incredibly annoying and self-sabotages his future. You may be tempted to write off the character early. Don’t. He becomes much more nuanced by the end while still remaining slightly annoying (which is a compliment). Bradley, as Nazim, is charismatic. You understand the goodness that lies beneath while also feeling that simmering pot of rage he carries with him. I was instantly drawn to Nazim and hooked into his fate.
Good indie crime dramas are hard to come by. Paradise City is not perfect but stands far out from the pack. Don’t miss this one.
"…Petrovski is pure energy on screen."
