Review of Mad City (1997) by Dawdlingpoet — 23 Nov 2021

I found this film to be very engrossing, pretty much from the start. It doesn't take long for the story to get going and I feel it tells an important story, focussing on the medias love of covering dramatic news stories as they happen. There's definitely a moral aspect to it - at first, the TV network employees at the studios are very hesitant about whats broadcast, once the hostage situation has been declared but it doesn't take too long for the usual media circus to close in around the museum and it becomes clear that the main concern is on how the TV network can cash in the most on this new developing story - the wellbeing of those at risk be darned. This is something that I feel is a symptom of this generation - 24/7 news channels focussing in on tragic news events, broadcasting footage to bring home the human side or the terrifying side of such events, at different times. I thought the plot was quite interesting and although its clearly not the only film about a hostage taking, the angle it takes is good and I'd go so far as to say its quite thought provoking. At times, it was hard to decide whether to be on Max's side or not, as his motives appear to change at different points in the plot. It was interesting to see how the public responded in defence of Sam Baily, once the situation had been broadcast or conveyed on TV. I certainly think that as a sort of regular joe, a working class underdog type character, he is quite easy to feel sorry for, at least in part. I felt that this film benefited from great performances, as mentioned previously. Some of the dialogue is quite telling, haunting even, as are key scenes, such as one when Sam's son recognises his father on TV and places his hand on the TV screen, exclaiming in excitement 'that's my father!' but obviously not realising the seriousness of the situation.

I found the musical score a bit too sentimental in one or two particular scenes, to the point of which it distracted me from the dialogue but otherwise, I barely noticed the score or soundtrack. I think if they re-worked the script and lessened the sentimentality somehow at key scenes, it could be better but its a pretty decent film for the most part anyway. Thinking about it, this could be a good film to analyse in a media studies course, or if your writing about the theme of the medias manipulation of (and involvement in) news events.

The ending I found to be quite shocking - very dramatic and unexpected. This really is a very tense and engrossing film, one with something of a chilling message behind it, that isn't perhaps as preachy as it maybe could have been and it (ie. the plot outcome) kept me guessing until the end, with an almost haunting aspect to it, so I felt anyway. I'm not sure I'd say its necessarily the best film either of the two main actors have ever appeared in - I haven't seen all of them to be able to make such a comment and there is something of a sentimentality aspect to it which I'd mark it down for, in terms of how its conveyed but otherwise, I'd say its a very good film.

Yes, I'd gladly recommend this film, as I found it to be engrossing, tense and dramatic, plus I feel it covers an important issue, in terms of the medias obsession with news coverage and getting exclusives. The acting is decent and although I felt it was slightly spoilt by a perhaps somewhat formulaic and unnecessarily cheesy, 'Hollywood' sentimentality aspect at a certain point, its for the most part a decent film.