Review of Broken City (2013) by Indira S — 30 Nov 2014

In "Broken City," New York City Mayor Hostetler(Russell Crowe) is facing a tough reelection campaign against Jack Valliant(Barry Pepper) who is not only younger but has a much cooler name to boot. Hostetler is also worried that his wife Cathleen(Catherine Zeta-Jones) is having an affair. So, he hires disgraced former police detective and currently broke private investigator Billy Taggart(Mark Wahlberg) to look into it for him. What he does find is Cathleen carrying on with Paul Andrews(Kyle Chandler), Valliant's campaign manager.

At its best, "Broken City" captures New York City well, especially in its being divided against itself at the best of times.(Plus, I have to like any movie that lingers so long over a political debate.) Aiding that first is Russell Crowe who looks like he is having the time of his life playing an old fashioned politician. And that's not to mention excellent character turns from Alona Tal(of "Veronica Mars" and "Burn Notice") and Jeffrey Wright.

But at the same time, "Broken City" suffers from quite a few too many extraneous subplots and tangents to be considered that much of a success either. And we get yet another a reminder how much a lost cause Catherine Zeta-Jones really is. Then there is Mark Wahlberg who is neither here nor there in the lead, which is a shame because any kind of effort could have definitely helped in giving depth to such a potentially fascinating character, even with that late surprise.