Mad City

A humane drama as well as a biting and succinct criticism of TV-journalism. It far surpasses a large number of similar movies I've seen, most notably its closest kin, Billy Wilder's vastly inferior Ace in the Hole. One of Costa-Gavras' very best, with good performances by Hoffman, Travolta and Alda.

Great concept, just not done well. I enjoyed it tho.

Enjoyable if superficial ride on the "media circus" Ferris wheel, powered by the star personalities: Travolta has a great line in dopey naïveté, and Alda is terrific from the smarmy peanut gallery, but this is Hoffman’s film all the way, on fire as the quick thinking, amoral centre of the storm; in fact, his inevitable character transformation feels forced and unlikely; a better version of this film would have followed him into the abyss, and placed a different character as the voice of reason.

This movie ilustrate very well the role of press as public opnion deturper, how the sensacionalism can change villain in heroes and vice versa.

An interesting and immensely watchable film that is bogged down by its heavy-handed and simple criticism of television media. Script and directorial problems abound, as well.

A movie Id like to add to my collection.

Dumb and heavy-handed. Trademark Travolta.

If you were to tease with the top three on the cast alone, this seems to be the bomb. But you end up having a movie proving that even the best of actors, directors - you name it - can make shit movies.

Hoffman and Travolta seem trapped in a naive feature about the power of news media on public opinion. We have seen this story before dozens of times.

Good point of view press and midia, in Brazil this movies was called "The Fourth Power", because its message about the relationship between jornalist and public. Watch and think.

Cute, not bad, whatever really.

So nondescript that I'd completely forgotten that I'd seen it (more than once!) until I stumbled across it on TV by accident. It's simplistic and heavy-handed, with a clumsy screenplay and Travolta's fat face everywhere. Hoffman lifts events somewhat, and it's message surrounding TV journalism is relevant, but hardly revolutionary or particularly well presented.

About 20 minutes into the movie I walked in and felt like it was just starting, which for me, i guess it was. The naked media hostility is rather charming, and somewhat novel. John plays his usual & Dustin deadpans in a whisper through scene after scene after scene, some of which do not apparently have anything to do with the movie. John gets increasingly sleepy and increasingly incoherent as the picture becomes increasingly redundant, one wonders if he is a spokesman for the audience.

Just like "Ace in the hole" and "Dog day afternoon"! ... ... NOT!

Not good. A lot of mistakes get made, but the movie is ultimately destroyed by its portrayal of the sneering Wall Street type conglomerates running the show, too outlandishly evil to register in reality, not to mention a copout ending.

Not bad.

Great cast. Surprisingly good role for John Travolta who convincingly played a desperate but dim witted security guard. Dustin Hoffman was mostly muted and unconvincing. Alan Alda was annoying. Mia Kirshner performance was also muted. Lucinda Jenney was good as the distressed wife. This story is really about the heartless media circus that springs up around crisis situations. In this case, the media coverage escalates the situation.

okay movie

Mad City- Hell, the whole county was mad after seeing two talents like Travolta and Hoffman wasted in this snoozefest.

flat movie

Involves the possibility that the media has to influence on the events and can transform a good citizen in a criminal and a criminal into a good citizen. The concept is good, but the outcome could be better.