City by the Sea may star Robert De Niro, but it is his young co-star, James Franco, most recently in Spider-Man, who is receiving most of the attention from critics. "Franco is fascinating to watch and Joey [his character] provides a showcase for some breakout moves," writes Jack Mathews in the New York Daily News. "The movie will be remembered primarily for the huge, emerging talent of James Franco," comments Sam Allis in the Boston Globe. On the other hand, Robert De Niro is getting some of his worst reviews for his performance in the film, although critics are quick to suggest that the script may be to blame. Says Rick Groen in the Toronto Globe and Mail: "It's like seeing a Swiss watchsmith working on a faulty Timex -- no matter what he does to the thing it'll never be a Cartier. Yes, at the 11th hour, even De Niro is drowned in City by the Sea."