Mad City (1997)

A normal guy blows his top, and a news reporter turns into a national spectacle.

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writers:

Tom Matthews (screenplay), Tom Matthews (story),

Stars:

John Travolta, Dustin Hoffman, Mia Kirshner

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Sam
Dustin Hoffman	...	Brackett
Mia Kirshner	...	Laurie
Alan Alda	...	Kevin Hollander
Robert Prosky	...	Lou Potts
Blythe Danner	...	Mrs. Banks
William Atherton	...	Dohlen
Ted Levine	...	Lemke
Tammy Lauren	...	Miss Rose
William O'Leary	...	CTN Junior Executive
Raymond J. Barry	...	Dobbins
Lucinda Jenney	...	Jenny
Akosua Busia	...	Diane
Ebbe Roe Smith	...	Bartholomew
Bingwa	...	Nat Jackson

Storyline

Sam Baily, upset over losing his job, takes a natural history museum hostage. Max Brackett, journalist, is in the museum when this occurs, and gets the scoop. The story spreads nation wide, and soon it is all anyone talks about. The story itself is the news, not the reason why or the real people behind it.

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Plot Keywords:

museum | natural history museum | news reporter | reporter | hostage | 

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Taglines:

One man will make a mistake. The other will make it a spectacle.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for depiction of a hostage situation, including violence and brief language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 November 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

El cuarto poder

Filming Locations:

Capital Club Athletics, N. 3rd Street, San Jose, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£209,272 (UK) (10 July 1998)

Gross:

£533,374 (UK) (24 July 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arnold Kopelson Productions, Punch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The woman who plays the cop with the shotgun in the trailer is Teresa O'Kane, actress and author of the book Safari Jema, A Journey of Love and Adventure from Casablanca to Cape Town.

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Quotes

Max Brackett: Mrs. Banks, go make sure the buffalo are grazing properly.

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Connections

Features The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)

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Soundtracks

"Is Anybody Listening?"
Written by Lou Reed

User Reviews

one man's insanity reigns after he loses his job

Interesting look at an emotionally crippled man as he goes out of control after losing his job. He holds several children and a few adults hostage in a museum after the curator refused to discuss his termination. One of the hostages is a newsman who winds up acting as the liaison between the police and the gunman. The situation leads to national prominence, drawing in an unscrupulous network newsman who only wanted to feather his own nest with the story. Good movie about a not unbelievable happening.