City of Industry (1997)

Storyline and Characters
"City of Industry" is a gritty 1997 criminal activity thriller directed by John Irvin. The film includes an ensemble cast, consisting of Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff, Famke Janssen, and Timothy Hutton. The story revolves around a heist gone wrong, betrayal, and the pursuit of revenge.

Keitel plays Roy Egan, a knowledgeable burglar who makes a calculated go back to his old profession for one last heist. He partner with his younger sibling, Lee (Timothy Hutton), and 2 other lawbreakers, Skip Kovich (Stephen Dorff) and Jorge Montana (Wade Dominguez). The objective is to rob a precious jewelry wholesaler in Palm Springs.

Plot Development
The break-in initially goes off without a hitch; nevertheless, the smooth operation takes a ruthless turn when Skip murders Lee, Jorge, and another accomplice in cold blood to keep the entire booty. Roy handles to get away by the skin of his teeth, and the rest of the movie is about his ruthless pursuit of Skip to avenge his bro's death.

Throughout his journey, Roy encounters Rachel Montana (Famke Janssen), Jorge's widow, who at first only assists Roy to ensure she gets her portion of the theft. Nevertheless, as the plot establishes, Rachel assumes a more critical role in helping Roy find Skip and specific his vengeance.

Action and Suspense
Loaded with climactic chases, suspenseful tracking, and cold-blooded violence, "City of Industry" takes viewers on a high-tension journey through Los Angeles' seedy underbelly. It's a character-driven narrative where the city serves as a background, showing the characters' desperation and survival instincts.

Resolution and Final Thoughts
The film reaches its peak when Roy and Skip lastly face each other. The scene reveals Roy's determined, unrelenting nature, underlining the style of vengeance that has driven the story. The battle ends with Roy avenging his brother's death. Nevertheless, he declines to take the fashion jewelry, informing Rachel to take it rather.

"City of Industry" received blended evaluations. However, its extensive exploration of criminal offense, betrayal, and revenge, coupled with intense performances (particularly by Keitel), contributes to making it a well-crafted noir film. Despite its rather standard plot, the movie sticks out for its style, its depiction of L.A.'s underworld, and its focus on one male's uncompromising pursuit of revenge.

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