Gay Today: Entertainment

Mad City

A Video Review

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By Stephanie Donald

Although the title to this flick is accurate to it's theme, Mad City would better carry the sub-title of "Ain't It The Truth".

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure what's happened to "the legitimate broadcast press" and this point is driven home like a pile driver. Dustin Hoffman and John Travolta deliver outstanding performances in an outlandish tale of those depths to which a television journalist will go, not only to cover a story but also to make the story unfold as he/she sees fit. madcity2.jpg - 22.32 K Dustin Hoffman as TV reporter Max Brackett

Hoffman plays Max Brackett, a sleazy but persistent TV reporter who was sent back to a minor league station after slamming a network news anchor live on air. Brackett is undaunted in his quest to get that one big story that will land him back at the network.

When he gets assigned a fluff story about the city museum laying off workers, lucky Brackett gets caught in the middle of a one-man siege by a quintessential blue collar played by John Travolta.

As time goes on and movie-after-movie rolls Travolta's name in the credits, we think less of the idiotic shallow characters of his early career and have more of an eye on his future performances.

The subtle and perhaps lost subtext to this film is probably wasted on less avid viewers. Brackett not only is reporting the news but is also telling the hostage taker what to do.

William Randolph Hearst once remarked that the next great wave of journalists wouldn't merely report the news, they would be the news. Hence, Gonzo Journalism was born.

madcity3.jpg - 65.52 K John Travolta plays hostage-taker Sam Baily Brackett proceeds to build the hostage taker into a folk hero, laying before the dim witted viewers a tale of a man stepped on by the system and backed into a desperate act. His only ransom demand: let him go free. It was all a silly mistake in judgement, why not just forgive and forget and everyone gets to go home. "No way", says the FBI. So Brackett plays the standoff like the MC of the Miss Universe Pageant.

To say much more would give away the whole story but watch the performance handed in by Alan Alda as Brackett's nemesis, the network anchor.

As time goes on and movie-after-movie rolls Travolta's name in the credits, we think less of the idiotic shallow characters of his early career and have more of an eye on his future performances.

Two criticisms: Hoffman has assumed the real-life role of a Messianic Savior by not only taking this role but a very similar role in Wag The Dog which essentially rams the same message down your throat: beware the media!

The second issue is the repetitive slam started a few years back with the release of Broadcast News. Everyone knew that William Hurt's character was really Peter Jennings but no one would admit it out loud. After having met Jennings, there was no doubt about it. madcity4.jpg - 23.13 K Network anchor Kevin Hollander played by Alan Alda

Overall this film was like watching those people who slow to a crawl at a bad traffic accident. Wondering just how gullible people can really be and then realizing your fears are true. People really are that dumb.

Mad City is the movie that you can't look away from, as much as you might like to. It gives one pause and hopefully enlightens.

Three Thumbs up from a former TV journalist.