City of Lies

City of Lies

Year: 2018

Runtime: 112 mins

Language: English

Director: Brad Furman

Echo Score: 66
DramaThrillerCrimeCrime

When Los Angeles Police detective Russell Poole investigates the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., he uncovers a disturbing cover-up. Years later, reporter Jack Jackson, seeking to revive his career, joins forces with Poole. Together, they delve into a complex and deeply rooted network of institutional corruption and deceit as they pursue the truth behind the unsolved case.

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Timeline & Setting – City of Lies (2018)

Explore the full timeline and setting of City of Lies (2018). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1997, 2015

The film moves between 1997, the era of the Wallace murder and the Gaines-Lyga shooting, and a 2015 frame in which a reporter revisits the case. The 1997 segment reflects a time of heated public discourse on police conduct and race in Los Angeles, while 2015 adds a reflective, retrospective viewpoint on justice and memory.

Location

Los Angeles

The story unfolds in Los Angeles, using the city’s police culture and media spotlight as a backdrop for a high-profile murder investigation. It situates the events within a climate of racial tension and intense public scrutiny in the late 1990s, with a framing that revisits the case years later in 2015. The setting emphasizes a metropolis where crime, power, and reputation intersect and shape the narrative.

🏙️ Los Angeles 🕵️ Investigative drama 💼 Crime and corruption 🎬 Biographical crime drama

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:35

Main Characters – City of Lies (2018)

Meet the key characters of City of Lies (2018), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Darius 'Jack' Jackson (Forest Whitaker)

In 2015, Jackson is an investigative reporter tasked with exploring the Wallace murder, rekindling decades-old questions through interviews and archival research. He forms a cautious alliance with Poole and ultimately writes a piece that reframes Poole as a forgotten hero, even as he grows disillusioned with systemic hypocrisy. His pursuit of the truth drives the film’s throughline across time.

🗺️ Reporter 🕵️ Investigative 📰 Media ethics

Russell Poole (Johnny Depp)

A veteran LAPD detective who develops a controversial theory that Suge Knight corrupted officers to murder Wallace and cover up the crime. He endures career sabotage, a transfer, and social shunning as he pursues the truth. His relentless investigation ends with a heart attack, highlighting the personal costs of challenging a powerful system.

🕵️ LAPD 💥 Corruption 🛡️ Whistleblower

Kevin Gaines (Amin Joseph)

A white detective whose shooting by a fellow officer intersects with Knight's payroll and gang ties, complicating the Gaines-Lyga case. His involvement helps propel Poole’s investigation and the broader corruption narrative, contributing to civil suits and public scrutiny.

🗺️ LAPD 🧬 Corruption 🔗 Organized crime

Frank Lyga (Shea Whigham)

Lyga is the detective at the center of the Gaines-Lyga shooting. Though exonerated publicly, he faces civil suits and immense pressure to close the case, illustrating how institutional protection can shield wrongdoing and crush individual reputation.

🧪 LAPD ⚖️ Civil case 🛡️ Injustice

David Mack (Shamier Anderson)

An LAPD officer connected to Knight and Wallace's security details, Mack’s arrest and links to a bank robbery contribute to the tapestry of police complicity. His role expands Poole’s list of suspects and underscores how powerful figures can influence law enforcement.

🧩 Police corruption 🩸 Crime association 🗝️ Insider

Christopher Wallace (Notorious B.I.G.) (Jamal Woolard)

The murder victim whose death sparks a public controversy about race, policing, and celebrity influence. Wallace’s case becomes a focal point for debates over truth, memory, and how media narratives shape perception of crime. His legacy looms over the investigation and its unresolvable conclusions.

🎤 Icon 🗺️ Notable case 🧭 Cultural impact

Voletta Wallace (Voletta Wallace)

Wallace’s mother, who files a wrongful death claim and anchors the human cost of an unsolved murder. Her presence underscores the emotional stakes of the investigation and the drive for accountability, shaping public memory and the pursuit of justice.

👩‍👧 Family 🏛️ Legal pursuit 💔 Grief and resilience

Lieutenant O'Shea (Dayton Callie)

Poole’s superior who resists the conspiracy theory and pressures him to close the Gaines-Lyga investigation, illustrating the LAPD hierarchy and the political pressures within the department. His stance helps push Poole toward deeper inquiry, highlighting the friction between leadership and investigative ambition.

🧭 Authority 🛡️ Duty vs truth 🗳️ Bureaucracy

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:35

Major Themes – City of Lies (2018)

Explore the central themes of City of Lies (2018), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Corruption

The investigation uncovers connections between police officers, criminal figures, and cover-ups that obscure the truth about Wallace's death. It shows how institutional power can pressure investigators and influence outcomes. The narrative emphasizes the difficulty of exposing wrongdoing when interests are protected by the system. Poole’s work reveals a pattern of complicity that challenges official narratives.

⏳ Legacy

The film considers what remains of a career and a reputation after a controversial investigation. It contrasts personal sacrifice with institutional resistance to acknowledging fault. Jackson’s retrospective tribute to Poole showcases how memory can rehabilitate a fallen investigator, even while justice remains elusive. The ending suggests that legacy is built through perseverance in the face of hypocrisy.

🧭 Investigative

The plot follows a winding trail of leads—from Gaines to Mack to Pérez—and the complex ties between law enforcement and crime. It portrays the challenges of assembling a coherent truth amid shifting loyalties and evolving testimonies. The investigation underscores how evidence can be manipulated, yet also highlights the stubborn pursuit of accountability. It frames inquiry as a long, arduous journey rather than a single breakthrough.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:35

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City of Lies Summary

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City of Lies Summary

City of Lies Timeline

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City of Lies Timeline

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City of Lies Spoiler-Free Summary

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