Review of Mad City (1997) by Ross M — 07 Aug 2009
A hugely under-rated drama with two great performances from two great actors. Dog Day Afternoon it ain't, but it does do a good enough job itself.
Travolta plays his role believavly and gets a great amount of sympathy for his character who you can't help but love and pity as his simple plan, which he, in his child like mind did not think through, escalates beyond his control.
Dustin Hoffman in one of his least raved about roles but a good one nonetheless, is great opposite Travolta as the news reporter who sees a kind man, not the evil villain who takes children hostage the public see.
Hoffman and Travolta, who basically carry the film on their own as neither one of them is ever off screen for a long period of time, play off each other remarkably and we see a realistic looking conenction appear between the characters, in something that reminds me a lot of the friendship of two farm workers in the novel Of Mice And Men.
It is also filmed well. However, the pacing is fairly bad and it can be rather slow in some parts, where you find your mind drifting when not much is happening on screen.
Although it is slow, and so much more could have been done with the plot, it does all build up to a great climax. Worth a look for the many good parts that out weigh the few bad parts.
This review of Mad City (1997) was written by Ross M on 07 Aug 2009.
Mad City has generally received mixed reviews.
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