Broken City (2013)
Broken City (2013)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Broken City's thinly sketched, formulaic script offers meager rewards for all but the least demanding noir aficionados.
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Movie Info
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Cast
as Billy Taggart
as Mayor Nicolas Hostetler
as Cathleen Hostetler
as Commissioner Carl Fairbanks
as Jack Valliant
as Paul Andrews
as Natalie Barrow
as Katy Bradshaw
as Sam Lancaster
as Todd Lancaster
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Critic Reviews for Broken City
All Critics (147) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (106) | DVD (1)
It's a local-government corruption thriller that doesn't care about logic or consistency or the people watching it.
Somewhere in here there's a cogent, timely attack on the links between business and politics.
If you're in the mood for some slick trash featuring great actors slumming it without phoning it in, "Broken City" is a crackling good time.
Most of the roles are so ambiguous you end up scratching your head in the final reel, and some of the loose ends are so irrelevant they seem to have ended up on the cutting-room floor.
What follows is not a review; it's an autopsy...one long (illustrated!) spoiler.
The picture comes out swinging with both a conscience and a set of brass knuckles; it also features a Russell Crowe who doesn't, thankfully, sing. What's not to love?
Audience Reviews for Broken City
Nothing special. Note to Russell...don't sign for a movie with Mark Wahlberg in it. It will bring you down...
Super Reviewer
Directed by one half of the Hughes Brothers, this is the story of one man's shot at redemption and revenge in the wake of corruption treachery. It had a lot of promise, but unfortunately doesn't have a lot to offer. It's like a really slick half baked take on Chinatown, but without the guts, intelligence, or skill. Don't get me wrong, there's some talented people involved here, but they just seem to be coasting along on auto pilot, and it shows. The film has a few good moments, but overall proves to be largely unremarkable and run of the mill. See it if you want, but you would probably be better off watching something else.
Super Reviewer
Entertaining but very flawed political thriller about a private eye (Mark Wahlberg) who was thrown off the NYC police force but gets a major job when the Mayor (Russell Crowe) asks him to find out who his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is messing around with. This case is rather easy for the man but soon he realizes that this is just the start of dirty business. BROKEN CITY, as a thriller, really doesn't work because the plot is rather silly. It's especially silly if you start to think about it too long and that's why it's best to just walk into the theater, turn your brain off and enjoy the excellent cast that's offered up here. It's always amazing to see how many great actors they can get for less-than-stellar material but the three leads are excellent as are Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper and Alona Tal. The performances are certainly the reason to check this film out as they help keep the film moving along no matter how many twists and turns get thrown at us. Wahlberg is once again a lot of fun playing the tough guy and has no problem with this. Crowe appears to be having fun with the less than serious role and Zeta-Jones gets a couple nice scenes along the way. I thought Pepper is the one who really stood out playing the man going up against Crowe's character in the upcoming election. Tal was also a breathe of fresh air when she's on screen. An almost unrecognizable Griffin Dunne also plays a supporting part. Director Allen Hughes does a nice job at keeping the film moving at a nice pace but there's still no question that the material just isn't all that strong. I'm not sure if there were countless re-writes or not but the screenplay pretty much hits on every cliché that this lower-quality political thrillers do. The twists and turns aren't all that shocking and neither is the ending. Still, BROKEN CITY remains enjoyable thanks to the cast. 4 Stars 5-21-13
Super Reviewer
Broken City Quotes
| Mayor Hostetler: | Tell me things haven't changed! |
| Mayor Hostetler: | There are some wars you fight, and there are some wars you walk away from... This is the fighting kind. |
| Mayor Hostetler: | There are some wars you fight and some wars you walk away from, this is the fighting kind. |
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