Florida City (2002) Reviews

• Unbelievable...in a good way!

  yakh252003-09-08

  I recently saw this movie and I loved it from start to finish. The story, the characters, even the scenery was incredible...why this movie isn't a #1 box office hit is beyond me. I do not want to give anything away, but I highly recommend, even insist, that everyone see this movie. It makes one think about history and current events in a totally different light. The budget for this film was $750 000, but it looks more like a $90 million picture, missing only the CGI and big name actor to sell it to the masses. Zen Gesner (playing the lead role of John Haleran) was flawless. In fact, all of the characters are so realistic you feel like you know them by the end of the movie, and remember them long after the credits roll. Director Ralph Clemente has told an amazing story and successfully takes viewers to another time in America. I often feel cheated when I see movies at the local theater, but if Florida City were playing, I'd pay double.

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• A hit!

  mnm1124872007-09-30

  This movie should be seen by anyone who was effected by Pearl Harbor...and since that is everyone than everyone should see it. Forget any problems you may have with some of the acting, simply focus on some of the points it raises. did the govt. know about pearl harbor and let it happen to launch us into the war? it really gets you thinking and it is still relevant now with all the questions surrounding the war with Iraq. The filmmakers have done a well balanced job of raising these questions but not exactly answering them for you, which in the end makes it all the more poignant. for the relatively small budget they had to work with they certainly got some bang for their buck, but it seems that a bigger budget version of this story could be very effective in todays more political society.

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• Well done off beat little story.

  wmorgs2003-04-18

  Good and interesting off beat story line. How "little people" are drawn into a web of conspiracy, on the periphery but never fully understanding the enormity of the conspiracy they are involved in. Excellent production values, a great sense of period, and great care went into the making of this film. A slice of Americana recounted with care and affection. Well acted, and well told by Ralph Clemente, a director with a good eye.

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• Well done and realistic

  phd_travel2012-08-13

  There has been quite a lot of talk recently and a major book about FDR knowing in advance about Pearl Harbor and letting it happen in order to get the country involved in the WWII. This is an interesting look at the cover up in action in the few days before the attack. Zen Gesner plays an alcoholic small town sheriff who isn't up to handling the first murder in the small town in Florida. His struggles and mistakes along the way are quite interesting and it shows how difficult it is to investigate a murder properly. When a young Japanese woman in found murdered, he stumbles into a conspiracy to cover up knowledge of the attack. Just wonder if all of it really did happen. The cast isn't very well known but they are competent. Overall worth a watch because of the fascinating subject matter.

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• Finally!

  seatick132011-12-18

  While Googling "Florida City" I ran across the resurrection of this film, now renamed "Small Town Conspiracy". It sounded like the movie filmed in my old hometown of Center Hill. I watched the trailer and the first scene of a Main Street circa 1940's made me sit up in amazement! There it was!!! Center Hill's Market Street as it was dressed for the movie when it was filmed there! In the second scene I saw both of my daughters as they were used as extras during the parade scene. I immediately contacted them and within a few minutes my oldest had found and purchased the movie online. She was very pleasantly surprised to see herself back when she was a teenager, and my other daughter was a 9 year old! The movie looks very interesting, we love period pieces such as this and best of all, it takes us back to the day when Center Hill became a movie set and everyone there was a "star"! Can't wait to view this and thanks to whomever finally made this available to the public! By the way, Center Hill's Market Street is ~still~ a ghost town, now with fewer buildings and none of them occupied.

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