This paper discusses the films by John Sayles. Sometimes referred to as the "Ralph Nader of filmmaking", many of Sayles' films share a common ambition - to expose the corrupt, opportunistic behavior of people in powerful positions, and champion the cause of the underdog who, despite daunting odds, accepts the challenge to bring these corrupt forces down. Two Sayles films in particular that are wrought with greed, graft, dishonesty, corruption, those unwittingly caught up in it and those who wish to expose it are 1988's, "Eight Men Out" and 1991's, "City of Hope". These two films also share another important trait, that of an unusually large cast of characters, each important in their own right to the events of the story, and whose lives intertwine, sometimes making it difficult to ascertain the good from the evil. But this is true in real life as well, and through their large numbers, Sayles' casts of characters represent a microcosm of society in which almost every personality type and moral perspective is represented, resulting in engrossing story-telling that makes the audience want to see which perspective will win out in the end.
