City Hall Movie Review 1995

Investigating the deaths of a heroic cop, a drug dealer, and six-year old boy in a shoot-out, idealistic deputy mayor Cusack uncovers a web of corruption and deceit in the Big Apple. Pacino excels as charismatic mayor John Pappas by showing the crafty string-puller behind the glossy image of the modern politico. Supporting cast is also strong, including Aiello as a Rodgers and Hammerstein-loving Brooklyn boss, and Fonda as the police union lawyer and standard issue love interest. Screenplay was conceived by Ken Lipper, who was once deputy mayor under Ed Koch, but the involvement of three other scripters causes confusion over what type of picture it's aiming to be. Cash-strapped New York rented its actual city hall out for filming at a price of $50,000.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 111 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

New York, New York, Frame-Ups, Cops, Organized Crime, Men, Politics, Ethics & Morals, It's a Conspiracy, Man!, Urban Drama, Funerals

Screenplay

Paul Schrader, Nicholas Pileggi, Bo Goldman, Ken Lipper

Cast

Al Pacino, John Cusack, Bridget Fonda, Danny Aiello, David Paymer, Martin Landau, Anthony (Tony) Franciosa, Lindsay Duncan, Nestor Serrano, Mel Winkler, Richard Schiff

Cinematography

Michael Seresin

Director

Harold Becker

Music

Jerry Goldsmith

Producer

Edward R. Pressman, Charles Mulvehill, Harold Becker, Ken Lipper, Columbia Pictures, Castle Rock Entertainment