Thom Andersen defends his hometown against its misrepresentation by Hollywood in this long, frequently fascinating essay in urban history and media criticism. Using clips from more than 200 movies, he shows how they have distorted and mystified the city's architecture, its politics and its racially and economically fractured social relations. It is hard to be shocked by the news that movies distort reality, but Mr. Andersen's dry wit, his eye for detail and his plainspoken erudition yield some fascinating insights.