On M List of Movie Reviews
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Mad City (1997)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
8/18
8/18:
Costa-Gavras made his name by directing the critically acclaimed picture Z which won the Oscar for Best Foreign
Language Film.
While watching Mad City, it was easy to see the similar themes from Z as the director tried to make a
statement how the media only cared about the ratings potential of a story and therefore blew it out of proportion. At the same
time, I couldn't help feeling it's 80% Ace in the Hole and 20% Dog Day Afternoon. It was like check, check,
check on the to-do list.
The premise is silly and has many flaws. For example, there's no way the cops will concede control of the
situation to a reporter. Once he left the museum, his duty was essentially over. The sight of the swarming media on the front
steps to interview the recently-released hostages will never happen, either.
Another aspect I don't like is the manipulation. Because the low-IQ hostage taker is played by John Travolta, it's easy to
generate some sympathy among the audience. How can people not like him? Imagine how quickly it's dissipated if he had been
replaced by an ugly weirdo or perhaps a turban-wearing Muslim, and they'll be like, "Just kill him already."
I find it weird the sharpshooters atop the roof couldn't shoot through the glass when they had a clear target. They also
had many chances to check out the windows and try to spot the hostage taker. The museum is too damn big for one person to
handle.
Yet I appreciate the ending because it's rather realistic. What's interesting to notice is everybody makes the mistake of
pushing the envelope further by agitating the hostage taker when everybody should be focusing on keeping him cool-headed.
Otherwise, being emotional will lead to disastrous decisions which is exactly what happened at the end.
Dustin Hoffman is too good of an actor to appear in Mad City, and I don't think he should've done it. I don't
get why he still looked so good and fresh while his co-star is haggard and sleep deprived. Regardless,
he's the sole reason to get me through the film along with a somewhat compelling, if recycled,
storyline. The point of his character is well-taken because he contradicts himself many times by pretending to take
the moral high ground. All I can think of is "Is this about the story, getting back into the big business, or an ego trip?"
All in all, Mad City lacks originality, but I've enjoyed the movie, regardless.