Just Plain Mad!

Dustin Hoffman, John Travolta, Alan Alda, TV News and it's manipulation of public opinion. You would think that, given the premise and the talent involved, this would be a fantastic movie. It's not. Overlong, an unbelievable plot, and mediocre performances make Mad City a chore to sit through.

The primary actors seem to be working for the paycheck only. Hoffman is a reporter in need of a good story, Travolta is a desperate, down-on-his-luck security guard that "accidentally" takes a museum full of kids hostage. The performances here are very lackluster, Hoffman seems to be mumbling his lines, Travolta is over-the-top and unconvincing as a gullible, innocent felon. I'm a fan of both actors, but I really have to blame a great deal of this film's failure on them.

Most the action in Mad City takes place inside one room of a museum, a set-up that requires dynamic performances and dialogue in order to hold your attention and be effective. I was really looking forward to Mad City but it was a major disappointment, there is no new material here, and no reason to even remotely recommend it. What has happened to Dustin Hoffman? His name used to guarantee quality (okay, except for Ishtar...). After this, I can't say I'm looking forward to his next film at all.

If you are interested in the TV news subject, I suggest you check out the infinitely better films "Network" and "Broadcast News". They are the movie that Mad City aspires to be.