Intriguing failure
Mad City sets itself a mad, well nigh insurmountable challenge by inviting direct comparison with three of the greatest American films ever made: Billy Wilder’s Ace in The Hole in which Kirk Douglas plays an unscrupulous journalist exploiting a mining accident, and two Sidney Lumet dramas from the 1970s, Dog Day Afternoon in which a bungled robbery turns into a hostage drama, and Network about a TV station’s manipulation of a reporter’s mental breakdown.
Costa-Gavras has made some memorable films – notably Z, Missing and Music Box; this isn’t in that league, but after a rather pedestrian opening half hour does offer some moments of sharp satire and bleak humour. However, I was never convinced enough by the unfocused script to find the drama tense, despite fine performances from everyone in the cast. So, this is an intriguing failure which is probably worth a couple of hours of your time, but go to Lumet for the real meal, and as soon as the Wilder masterpiece is released on DVD, put it straight to the top of your queue. |
