City Hall - 1996

Castle Rock Entertainment, Columbia Pictures

Directed by Harold Becker

Cast:

• Mayor John Pappas – Al Pacino
• Deputy Mayor Kevin Calhoun – John Cusack
• Marybeth Cogan – Bridget Fonda
• Alderman Frank Anselmo – Danny Aiello
• Judge Walter Stern – Martin Landau
• Abe Goodman – David Paymer
• Paul Zapatti – Tony Franciosa
• Larry Schwartz – Richard Schiff

Story: Politics is the business of keeping your ear to the ground, even when you've already been elected. Case in point: an idealistic young man from the south hooks up with the Mayor of New York City to become second in command. As the right hand man, its up to him to let the Mayor know what's important and what is going to be on the news. Without warning, a narcotics cop meets with a known drug dealer and cousin of a notorious mob boss, and they both end up dead, along with an innocent bystander, a six year old African American boy. An investigation ensues that threatens to unearth a long hidden pattern of corruption that leads to the highest levels of NYC government, and may shatter the illusions of the well meaning but naive deputy mayor.

Review: This film did not do well at the box office, probably because the drama is mostly in the dialog. There are a few tense moments, but most of the suspense and tension in the film come from Pacino's dynamic personality and Cusack's charm. Which is not to say the film is without merit. As a political thriller, it is probably more accurate in the way events are handled than most. You see the people in the mix, you see the steps that have to be taken, and you see the politics involved. Pacino's soliloquy at the funeral of the murdered child is nothing short of incredible, but soliloquy is what Al does best. Splendid performances by Aiello, Landau, Paymer, and Schiff fill out the plot with color and flair, and almost make up for the lackluster Fonda and the much too stereotypical Franciosa. Not at the top of my list, but definitely not at the bottom. Collectible if you are a lover of Pacino or Cusack, rated R for language and violence.