City of Lies

For other uses, seeCity of Lies (disambiguation).

City of Lies
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Brad Furman
Screenplay by	Christian Contreras
Based on	LAbyrinth byRandall Sullivan
Produced by	Miriam Segal Paul Brennan Stuart Manashil
Starring	Johnny Depp Forest Whitaker
Cinematography	Monika Lenczewska
Edited by	Leo Trombetta
Music by	Chris Hajian
Production companies	Good Films Lipsync Romulus Entertainment FilmNation Entertainment Miramax Infinitum Nihil
Distributed by	Saban Films
Release dates	December 8, 2018(2018-12-08)(Noir in Festival) March 19, 2021(2021-03-19)(United States)
Running time	112 minutes
Countries	United States United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	$2.8 million

City of Liesis a 2018crime thrillerfilm about the investigations by theLos Angeles Police Departmentof the murders of rappersTupac Shakurandthe Notorious B.I.G.It is directed byBrad Furman,with a screenplay by Christian Contreras based on the non-fiction bookLAbyrinthbyRandall Sullivan.The film starsJohnny Deppas retired LAPD detectiveRussell PooleandForest Whitakeras journalist Jack Jackson, withRockmond DunbarandNeil Brown Jr.also starring.

The film premiered in Italy on December 8, 2018, screened out of competition on the last day of theNoir in Festival.It received a limited release in Italy on January 10, 2019. It was originally set to be released in the United States on September 7, 2018, byGlobal Road Entertainment,it was pulled from the schedule in August 2018 following the closure of Global Road Entertainment. It was eventually acquired bySaban Filmsand released on March 19, 2021, followed by aPVODrelease on April 9, 2021. The film received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

In 2015,Los Angeles Timesinvestigative reporterDarius "Jack" Jackson is assigned to write about themurder of the Notorious B.I.G.[Christopher Wallace], and meets with the retired and disgracedLos Angeles Police Department(LAPD)detectiveRussell Poole.In a series offlashbacks,Poole reveals his theory thatDeath Row RecordsCEOSuge Knightpaid corrupt LAPD officers to murder Wallace andcover it up.

In 1997, just weeks after the Wallace murder, Poole is tasked with investigating the shooting of off-duty black police officerKevin Gainesby a white detective,Frank Lyga.Poole faces pressure from upper management in relation to themedia frenzyinvolving other recent race-related incidents in Los Angeles, namely the beating ofRodney Kingand themurder trial of O. J. Simpson.During the course of the investigation, Poole learns that Gaines was on Knight's payroll and hadBloodsgang affiliation. Poole's superior officer, Lieutenant O'Shea, refuses to give credence to this theory and orders Poole to close the Gaines-Lyga shooting. Lyga is exonerated but faces acivil suit,with the Gaines family being represented by attorneyJohnnie Cochran.Poole confirms from an undercoverFBIagent the connection between Knight and Gaines, and he is transferred to the Robbery-Homicide Division to investigate the Wallace murder.

Poole and his partner Fred Miller obtain the names of suspects includingDavid Mack,another LAPD officer in Knight's employ, as well asNation of Islammember Amir Muhammad and Blood member Wardell Fouse. Poole learns Mack worked security for Wallace and has also been recently tied to a bank robbery. Mack is arrested but does not give up any information related to Wallace's death. Poole begins investigating yet another LAPD officer,Rafael Pérez,after learning that he has been stealingcocainefrom the evidence room. Poole tails Pérez and watches him shoot a drug dealer but Poole intervenes and shoots Pérez in self-defense. Pérez is criminally charged and implicates himself and other officers in variouscriminal activities.Poole is granted his own task force and also prepares to take the stand in Lyga's civil trial where he intends to claim, on the record, that Mack was involved in Wallace's death and that the LAPD is covering it up, but the city settles before the trial commences. Lyga is unable to clear his name and Poole is shunned by the LAPD.

Voletta Wallacefiles awrongful deathclaim against Los Angeles based on the evidence championed by Poole. Mack and Amir Muhammad were named as defendants, but were dropped shortly before the trial began after the LAPD and FBI dismissed them as suspects. Poole resigns in disgrace one month before he was eligible for hispension,which ultimately costs him his family.

Jackson meets with Poole and Voletta who have developed a friendship in the decades since her son's murder. Jackson apologizes to her for previously writing an article implicating her son in themurder of Tupac Shakur;which she accepts. Voletta reveals that she is thankful for Poole's sacrifice in his attempts to solve the murder. Poole informs Jackson that Wallace's earning potential was estimated at $1 billion, and that a civil suit would bankrupt the city. One day, Poole goes to the L.A. Sheriff's Department in an attempt to reopen his investigation, but suffers a heart attack and dies some time after.

Out of guilt, Jackson, using the information he has learned, writes an article about Russell Poole declaring him as a forgotten hero. Jackson's article is received with acclaim, however, he soon resigns from his job, finding the system too hypocritical to celebrate worthy men like Poole. Both the murders of Wallace and Tupac remain unsolved.

Cast

• Johnny DeppasRussell Poole,a retired LAPD detective.
• Forest Whitakeras Darius "Jack" Jackson, a journalist who teams with the cop to find the truth.
• Rockmond Dunbaras Dreadlocks
• Neil Brown Jr.asRafael Pérez,a corrupt LAPD officer
• Xander Berkeleyas Edwards
• Shea Whighamas DetectiveFrank Lyga
• Wynn Everettas Megan Poole, Russell's wife.
• Toby Hussas Detective Fred Miller, Poole's partner
• Louis Herthumas City Attorney Stone, a city attorney who defends Poole on trial.
• Shamier AndersonasDavid "D. Mack" Mack,a corrupt LAPD officer.
• Amin JosephasKevin Gaines,a corrupt LAPD officer
• Laurence Masonas Dunton,an FBI Agent
• Joseph Ferranteas Detective Snow
• Dayton Callieas Lieutenant O'Shea
• Keith Szarabajkaas Sgt. Reese
• Peter Greeneas Commander Fasulo
• Marisol Sacramento as Errolyn Romero
• Michael Paréas Varney
• Glenn Plummeras Psycho Mike
• Kevin Chapmanas Sgt. Leeds
• Obba Babatundéas Chief of PoliceBernard Parks
• Robert Henley Starr as EMT Robert McGinnis
• Rian Bishop as Officer Simpyak
• Rey Borge as Cashier
• Voletta Wallace as herself, the Notorious B.I.G.'s mother
• Killer Mikeas Arrested Man

Production

Depp plays former LAPD detectiveRussell Poole

On February 4, 2013, Miriam Segal's British production company Good Films was reported to have bought the film rights toRandall Sullivan'snon-fiction bookLAbyrinth.This explored police corruption inLos Angelesrelated to detectiveRussell Poole's investigation of the murders ofTupac ShakurandBiggie Smalls,which were never solved.On September 7, 2016,Johnny Deppwas reportedly cast in the film to play Poole, the Los Angeles police detective.

Brad Furmanwas announced as director for the film, from a script written by Christian Contreras and adapted from the book.On September 19,Open Road Filmsacquired the film's US distribution rights. It co-financed the film along withMiramax,whileGood Universehandled the film's international sales.

Casting

On November 11, 2016,Rockmond Dunbarwas cast in the film to play Dreadlocks. The same dayForest Whitakerjoined the film to play the journalist who teams up with the police officer to uncover the truth.On November 17,Neil Brown Jr.was cast in the film to play police officerRafael Pérez.Xander Berkeley,Shea Whigham,Wynn Everett,andToby Husswere cast in the film on December 13, while two days laterLouis HerthumandShamier Andersonalso joined the film, with Herthum playing a city attorney who defends Poole on trial and Anderson playing corrupt LAPD officerDavid "D. Mack" Mack.On January 6, 2017,Amin Josephjoined the film to play police officerKevin Gaines,and on January 18,Laurence Masonto play an FBI agent, Dunton.On January 23, 2017, newcomer Joseph Ferrante joined the film for an unspecified role.

Filming

Principal photographyon the film began on December 13, 2016, inLos Angeles,California.Principal photography wrapped in May 2017.

Release

The first trailer for the film, originally titledLAbyrinth,was released on May 21, 2018, which would have been the Notorious B.I.G.'s 46th birthday.Following the merger between Open Road Films andIM Globalto formGlobal Road Entertainment,the film was retitledCity of Liesand given a release date of September 7, 2018, the 22nd anniversary of themurder of Tupac Shakur.In August 2018, the film was pulled from the schedule, reportedly due to an ongoing lawsuit involving Depp and the film's location manager; no new release date was announced.

On August 23, 2018, theDaily Beastreported that Depp's legal trouble was used as a scapegoat. It suggested that the Los Angeles Police Department may have been trying to suppress the film, in which it is negatively portrayed, or that there were other major players who did not want the film released.In July 2020, Adam Tod Brown argued that the film was suppressed so Voletta Wallace cannot reopen theNotorious B.I.G. murder caseto sue the LAPD.On August 29, 2018,Bank Leumifiled another lawsuit against Miramax over millions of dollars in unpaid guarantees caused by pulling the film from release.

City of Lieswas first premiered in Italy when it was screened on December 9, 2018, out of competition, at theNoir in Festivalas the closing film of the event.It received a limited release in Italy on January 10, 2019. The film was released onBlu-rayin Italy on June 19, 2019.

On March 4, 2021,Saban Filmsannounced that it had taken over the distribution rights, and scheduled the movie for release on March 19, 2021.In October 2021, Highland Film Group picked up international rights to the film for worldwide sales and marketing.

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, the film grossed $275,049 from 501 theaters in its opening weekend, a per-venue average of $549.

Downloads and rentals

OnRedbox,the film debuted at #1 on the rental chart and #5 on the VOD chart for week ending June 13, 2021.

Critical response

OnRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an approval rating of 51% based on 49 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10.According toMetacritic,which calculated a weighted average score of 44 out of 100 based on 12 critics, the film received "mixed or average reviews".

Richard Roeperof theChicago Sun-Timesgave the film 3 out of 4 stars, writing: "...in large part due to the stellar work from Depp and Whitaker, this is a valuable and somewhat illuminating look back at the senseless, stunning killings of two rap icons just six months apart."Writing forThe Hollywood Reporter,John DeFore wrote: "This is a compelling drama with real-world concerns that shouldn't be ignored, and it deserves better than to be the victim of an actor's offscreen sins."

See also

• List of hood films

External links

• City of LiesatIMDb
• City of LiesatMetacritic
• City of LiesatRotten Tomatoes