John Sayles's urban drama follows the intersecting lives of a dozen or more characters as they move through their lives, affect each other without knowing it, and do their best to survive -- both within and outside of legality -- in the crumbling cityscape of the ironic title.

Zip:
Figures. We finally get a chick in the band, and she's a lesbian.


Bobby:
How do you know?


Zip:
I asked her if she wanted go out with me, she said No.


Bobby:
Zip, this town's full of chicks who won't go out with you.


Zip:
Yeah. Lesbians, all of 'em.