City Hall (1996)

57% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
41% of users liked it
(10,877 ratings)

Three A-list screenwriters -- (Nicholas Pileggi, Bo Goldman, and Paul Schrader) -- contributed to the script of this idealistic political drama. John Pappas (Al Pacino) is the popular, ethical Mayor of New York; Kevin Calhoun (John Cusack) is his even more idealistic and principled deputy. When a… More Three A-list screenwriters -- (Nicholas Pileggi, Bo Goldman, and Paul Schrader) -- contributed to the script of this idealistic political drama. John Pappas (Al Pacino) is the popular, ethical Mayor of New York; Kevin Calhoun (John Cusack) is his even more idealistic and principled deputy. When a detective and mobster kill each other and an innocent six-year-old black child in a shootout, questions arise about what the cop was doing meeting with the gangster in the first place. The Mayor and his staff handle the situation ably, but Calhoun digs deeper and finds troubling evidence that even his seemingly incorruptible boss has not escaped the shadier aspects of political life. The Mafia boss (Tony Franciosa) whose nephew was the dead gangster, along with a Brooklyn political boss (Danny Aiello) with his own agenda, come into the story, becoming part of a series of larger links, secret relationships, and bonds of "honor" between men who, on the surface, would have no reason to be in business with each other. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 51 min.
Directed By: Harold Becker
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Feb 16, 1996 Wide
On DVD: Jul 27, 1999
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark, USA Today
A watchable but never pulsating portrait of mayoral wheeling-dealing.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
An ambitious but unsatisfying meditation on the morality of power.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Has all the ingredients for a solid drama but instead comes out a half-baked disappointment.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Convincing drama about the moral ambiguity of contemporary politics.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

More like Shitty Hall.
Mike T

The acting is fairly good all around in this solid suspense film, but the script is a little too uninvolving to rise above a level of mediocrity. Pacino is superb, of course, performing with a range of emotions most actors can only dream of.
Henrik S

I have to say, I do like my political thrillers like the next person, but human interest and direct emotional connection must always be the primary concern of a movie, i my opinion. This one is just a mess and a confused and entangled heap of intrigue and chess, with no room for the… More
I have to say, I do like my political thrillers like the next person, but human interest and direct emotional connection must always be the primary concern of a movie, i my opinion. This one is just a mess and a confused and entangled heap of intrigue and chess, with no room for the characters to breath and spread the human energy. A stale and dry offering which never clicks, despite the good cast.

Cast

            Al Pacino as Mayor John Pappas

            John Cusack as Kevin Calhoun

            Bridget Fonda as Marybeth Cogan

            Danny Aiello as Frank Anselmo

            Martin Landau as Judge Walter Stern

            Anthony Franciosa as Paul Zapatti

            David Paymer as Abe Goodman

            Stanley Anderson as Train Conductor

            Ray Aranha as James Bone

            Steve Aronson as Murray Safire

            Jordan Baker as Mrs. Marquand

            Tony Lo Bianco as Paul Zapatti

            Fran Brill as Angie

            Harry Bugin as Morty the Waiter

            Angel David as Vinnie Zapatti

            Lindsay Duncan as Sydney Pappas

            John Finn as Commissioner Coonan

            Richard Gant as Deputy Commissioner Samuels

            Sylvia Kauders as Gussie

            Joseph Kelly as Hospital Priest

            Edward I. Koch as Newscaster

            Rob La Belle as Wakeley

            Mark Lonow as Lenny Lasker

            Lucia Mendoza as Elaine Santos' Sister

            Roberta Peters as Nettie Anselmo

            Larry Romano as Tino Zapatti

            Richard Schiff as Larry Schwartz

            Nestor Serrano as Det. Eddie Santos

            Miguel Sierra as Israel Torres

            Tamara Tunie as Leslie Christos

            Mel Winkler as Detective Holly

            John Slattery as Intel Detective George

            Murphy Guyer as Captain Florian

            Lauren Vélez as Elaine Santos

            Brian Murray as Corporation Council

            Mary Murphy as Field Reporter

            Martin Andau
            
See full cast

City Hall (1996)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Michael G

Mike T

Henrik S

Cast

Trailers & Clips