“Atravelogueofpurgatory.Brutal,butminutelyrendered...“--GuillermodelToroIt’searly2020,andlegendaryproducerJacobRosenthaliseagertomakehisnextfilm,Coal,adaptedfromthebestsellingnovelbythecelebratedwriterRexPatterson.Theproject--whichtakesonthecontroversialtopicofraceinAmerica--isJacob’senvisionedmagnumopus,andlikelyhisswansong.HeselectsDavidLevittodirect,amajoropportunityfortheclassicallytrainedactor/directorwhoseownfilms,whilegarneringcriticalacclaim,havenotresultedinboxofficesuccess.ButtheannouncementofDavid’shiringdoesn’tsitwellwithaproducerfromDavid’spast,BradShlansky,whochannelsthelastremainingvestigesofhiscreativityintoarevengeplotthatcouldverywellscupperthemakingofCoal,andruinthelivesofitsproduceranddirectorintheprocess.Asprawling,character-drivendepictionofthemodernfilmindustry,CityofBlowsreachesbackdecadestotheformativeexperiencesofeachofthenovel’scentralfigurestoexplorewhatfirstmotivatedthemtobecomeinvolvedinthequixoticandoftenvenalworldofmovie-making.Drivenbytheirdiversebackgrounds,eachmustnavigatethesamehucksteringcircusthatputsfilmsonscreen.
