Mad City (1997)

A disgruntled security guard holds a school trip group hostage, while a news reporter forms a bond with him.

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writers:

Tom Matthews (screenplay), Tom Matthews (story)

Stars:

John Travolta, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Alda

1 nomination.

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:

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

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Taglines:

This November, the biggest hostage negotiation is about to begin

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Genres:

Crime | 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 USA:

$4,649,742, 9 November 1997, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$10,556,196, 11 January 1998

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.,Arnold Kopelson Productions,Punch Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The four-engine business jet shown is a Lockheed Jetstar. One of the very few four engined business or personal jet planes produced. They are not as popular as twin engine business or personal jets, because they cost more to purchase, maintain, and operate, simply because of the four engine configuration. The pods hanging on the wings are external fuel tanks. They were produced from 1957 to 1978, and most were retired from service in the 1990s. Approximately two hundred four were produced, and were the first dedicated business jet produced. Popularity dwindled, due to high operating costs.

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Quotes

Max Brackett: You've got to ask for a fast car, a Learjet or a Greyhound bus.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Mad City/Bean/Starship Troopers/Eve's Bayou/The Wings of the Dove (1997)

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Soundtracks

Is Anybody Listening?
Written by Lou Reed

User Reviews

Another Costa-Gavras Movie

Costa-Gavras is known as a political director and the most part of his movies are intriguing and makes us thinking about our way of see/accept the political facts in world. Although this movie is not necessarily political, makes us thinking at this time, about the influence of the media in the facts and in our lives. In this movies, two different lives had being linked by a casual meeting in a museum: A reporter (Dustin Hoffman) whose career was marked by a mistake made in a network, is trying to "resurrect" his work making a report about a financial scandal when he's sent to make a report in a museum. At the same time, a guard of the museum (John Travolta), fired some days before because of cut of budget, goes there trying to have a conversation with the manager and convince her to give his job back. At the same time that the reporter realizes it can be a resurrection for him, the things run out of control when other media reporter challenges the guard and him... Besides the excellent performances of Hoffman and Travolta, Costa-Gavras makes once more, a very smart movie that can't be missed.