Mad City (1997)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Memorable, crazy movie

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

Travolta does a superb job of playing a semi-educated yet noble working man who doesn't know how to deal with bad luck. He doesn't even understand that his lay-off isn't his fault and nothing can be done about it. He stumbles into a hostage taking situation and initially is too upset to agree to anything, including immediate surrender. The theme is not altogether incredible in our times an embittered employee going berserk and threatening violence. Problem is that Travolta is saddled with the challenge to portray this unwitting hostage-taker, part antagonist and part victim. I'd contend that he failed to bring out this delicate dichotomy. Even Hoffman's full-blooded newsman with a childish, self-centered ambition and some very sardonic light moments in the earlier half, cannot save the film from its maudlin second half, by which time it's already too late for us to care. The screenwriters added bit of humor to this involving story and that made it even better. It's a decent entertainment and certainly recommended.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

(18%) A very typical, tame Hollywood stab at a hostage situation drama with focus on the news media manipulation of real life and death situations. Quite honestly this is a poor movie. Dustin Hoffman is borderline terrible as he lazily mutters his way through the entire movie acting almost as bored as the poor unfortunate audience, as if I had paid money to see this then I'd feel more than a little cheated. While Travolta is far from on form, but at least he's as entertaining to watch as he usually is. The script is lame brained Hollywood trash that has an interesting and important concept of a man going above and beyond to try and get his job back, but it is so poorly developed that Travolta's character comes across more as an idiot than someone worthy of any sympathy. Couple that with the kidnapped kids having no real problem with armed men keeping them hostage away from their homes and family for days on end, and the final reel that has a terrible sense of pointlessness about it. My advice, give this 90's flop a miss.

The problems when you've seen as many films as I have, is when you watch one which reminds you of a far superior version of it.Take Mad City. It's a social satire about the media's role in the death of a museum security guard (John Travolta). He just wants his job back after being fired, but is quickly turned into a love/hate figure by the TV and radio stations. What he thought was going to be a simple case of threatening his old boss with a gun to achieve his aims, quickly escalates into a hostage situation... As he unwittingly takes a party of children prisoner and the cameras and police cars end up parked outside. Because of the guy's lack of intelligence, he doesn't have a clue what he's doing, or how to get out of it.Fear ye not though, as a fallen reporter (Dustin Hoffman) happened to be in the museum bathroom at the time, and becomes part of the crisis. Seeing this as a chance to get back into the big leagues, he manipulates Travolta into maximising his own publicity... and this average Joe starts striking a chord with the American public everywhere when he start broadcasting his tales of woe. However, the audience's affections are notoriously fickle, and further revelations could jeopardise his newfound fame...You have vendors outside selling commemorative T-shirts, and the cops refusing to charge in until they see the latest opinion polls for this dude. Hence the title, Mad City. Even the sanest lose their head in such heated circumstances, and fanned by the flames of saturation coverage, EVERYONE has an opinion. But I seem to remember this type of story being done with a lot more authenticity and panache in Dog Day Afternoon. That movie explored issues which Mad City wouldn't even touch, and a much more credible set-up too.This one starts off well, but becomes more cartoon-like as it goes along. Travolta and Hoffman's partnership never really gels, and the latter's heel face-turn two thirds of the way through with little provocation seems implausible to say the least. It's a very basic, bare-bones version of a fascinating concept, and can only be recommended to those who couldn't deal with the complexities that are apparent in features of a similar ilk.One of which is apparently called Ace In The Hole. Guess what I'll be watching next... 5/10

Underrated, that is for sure. I was shocked at the low ratting of this film on IMDb and also that no one had said, "hey you have to see this movie". I think John Travolta gives one of his best performances and Dustin Hoffman is amazing as always and also a great supporting cast. Sure this film does not have the intensity of other films with it's same basic concepts but that is what makes it unique. I find it interesting that most movie critic reviews of this film are not very good, it makes me wonder if that has something to do with it's content. The film focuses on the media and the harm it is capable of causing by at times stirring the pot or reporting then news the way they want it be seen. So movie critics who are part of the media, for the most part hate this film, hmmm? Anyway a great film with great performances that deserved way more attention and praise then it has received.