Drama is too intense for kids and young teens.

The plot of Silver City is movieish in the extreme, with filthy abandoned mines subbing for the bars and alleys of urban noir, but it's no more than mild cheese.

Though there's nothing wrong with moral outrage, it doesn't always aid the telling of a complex story. More subtlety might have worked better.

John Sayles' detective story-cum-political satire benefits from a superb turn from the always reliable Chris Cooper as a dimwit, corrupt politician.