BROKEN CITY
US, 2013, 109 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Jeffrey Wright, Catherine Zeta- Jones, Barry Pepper, Kyle Chandler,
Directed by Allen Hughes.
Broken City is a film about urban corruption. This makes the film quite relevant, with so much political corruption in so many countries as well as in the administration of significant world cities.
Mark Wahlberg plays, Billy, a police officer who, at the beginning of the film, is standing over a victim who has been shot. A court case follows and he is acquitted, especially because of a lack of evidence. However, he is in good standing with the chief of police (Jeffrey Wright), but he is also being selected for jobs by the mayor (Russell Crowe), who has a hold over him in connection with the evidence of the killing.
The scene having been set, seven years pass. Billy now runs a private detective agency, with an efficient secretary whose main tasks seem to be collecting payment from outstanding indebted clients. Billy has a quiet home life, with a partner, an actress starring in an independent film, and has given up alcohol for five years. What could go wrong?
The answer, of course, is more corruption. When he is employed by the mayor to follow his wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones?, he shows his skills in several engaging sequences, but he also uncovers a conspiracy which leads to murder. There is a buildup to the final confrontation between Billy and the mayor.
Who has a hold over whom?
Russell Crowe gives a solid performance as the mayor, confident in his power and in his abilities, charming on the surface but continually ruthless. Mark Wahlberg does a variation on his theme of the lower-middle class man with a mission, ambiguous in his background, but with an inherent integrity. Catherine Zeta- Jones is integral to the plot but has comparatively few scenes.
The main part of the action takes place over only a few days, the final days in the campaign for the election of the mayor, the mayor during his utmost to please the public for re-election, even getting the city’s budget into the black, a substantial surplus, gained from selling a housing estate in the city. His opponent (Barry Pepper), makes accusations against the mayor, debates him in public, and has to deal with the murder of his campaign manager.
In many ways, the material is familiar, but has an interest because of intrigues, conspiracies, and dramatic confrontations. The film was directed by Allen Hughes, one of the Hughes brothers who directed such films as Dead Presidents and the Jack the Ripper thriller, From Hell.
1. Urban crime, politics, corruption, police work?
2. The plausibility of the plot? The police, the mayor and his administration, the deals, finance, development, corruption? heroics?
3. New York City, locations, civic, mansions, campaigns, Brooklyn, independent movies? The musical score?
4. The title, perspectives on New York, on social situations and cities, crime, poverty? The new campaign? The response of the public?
5. Billy, the dead man? The police, audiences wondering whether the shooting was deliberate or not? The trial, the prosecutor, lack of evidence, the defence? Billy being freed? Natalie’s response?
6. Billy summoned to the mayor, the mayor and his discussions with the police chief, connivance? The later revelation of the chief’s attitudes? Plans, the mayor’s publicity with Billy? The situation of evidence, holding it?
7. Seven years passing? Billy and his agency, working with Kate, her personality, devotedness? Issues of non-payment, the phone calls, the threats, arguments? Billy’s life at home? With Natalie, his love for her? The revelation of the motivation? The shooting of the rapist? Her gratitude? Her working on the independent film? Persuading Billy to go to the premiere, the party, the discussion at the party, his attitudes towards the gay community? Watching the film, the sex scene, his disgust, anger? Leaving, drinking heavily? After five years?
8. The action taking place over a short period? The mayor, his reelection, his confidence, the mayor as a person, Russell Crowe’s style? Service of the city? The issue of the estate, selling it, the city in the black? The businessman and his son, discussions with the mayor, threatening him? The social? The television debate? The mayor’s ruthlessness?
9. Billy summoned to the mayor, after the years, the new job, Billy and his skills, following the mayor’s wife, the photos, seeing her talk to Paul, Kate and her help, the stealing of the phone? Getting the dress, the identity? Travelling on the train, the discussions with Paul?
10. The mayor’s wife, acclaimed her speech, the mayor and his suspicions, adultery? Her meetings with pole? The revelation of the truth? Manager of the opponent’s campaign? At the social, the wife and her note, her knowing she was followed, her explanations and warnings? Paul’s death? The mayor’s wife at the end, watching his arrest?
11. Jack Valliant, his affluent background, as a candidate, his television interviews, accusations against the mayor? His reliance on Paul, the rehearsals of the debate, his wanting to use negative material against Paul’s advice? The impact of Paul’s death? His grief, Billy helping him, his public appearances, television?
12. The police, calling Billy, the chief and his role, the chief’s anti-Mayor stance, but playing his cards shrewdly? Getting Billy to get Jack to recover?
13. Todd, clash with his father, Billy bursting in, his security guard, the friendliness with Billy at the social, but suspicions? The security guard killing Paul? Tom’s description? The contract? The copies? Kate’s having a copies ready to send to journalists?
14. The workings of the police, the campaigns, the debates, issues, interjections?
15. Billy’s visit to the men, his threatening him with the documents? The mayor’s threat against Billy, the video of his shooting the rapist? Billy going home, Natalie gone, having the bath, thinking, his decision, going to the chief? The mayor’s arrests? Billy willing to give himself up?
16. How relevant to the issues of this kind of film to contemporary politics and administration?
