City Hall (1996)
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54% of critics liked it
(24 reviews) -
41% of users liked it
(11,184 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
- Directed By
- Harold Becker
- Written By
- Ken Lipper, Paul Schrader, Nicholas Pileggi, Bo Goldman
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Feb 16, 1996 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 27, 1999
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Jack Kroll, Newsweek
Its chief pleasure is the acting of the big cast, notably Pacino. At 55, he has a haggard, life-wrestling beauty and a street eloquence that has more innocence than De Niro and more sincerity than Nicholson.
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Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
An ambitious but unsatisfying meditation on the morality of power.
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Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Has all the ingredients for a solid drama but instead comes out a half-baked disappointment.
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Convincing drama about the moral ambiguity of contemporary politics.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Al Pacino
as Mayor John Pappas
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John Cusack
as Kevin Calhoun
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Bridget Fonda
as Marybeth Cogan
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Danny Aiello
as Frank Anselmo
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Martin Landau
as Judge Walter Stern
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Anthony Franciosa
as Paul Zapatti
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David Paymer
as Abe Goodman
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Stanley Anderson
as Train Conductor
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Ray Aranha
as James Bone
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Steve Aronson
as Murray Safire
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Jordan Baker
as Mrs. Marquand
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Tony Lo Bianco
as Paul Zapatti
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Fran Brill
as Angie
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Harry Bugin
as Morty the Waiter
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Angel David
as Vinnie Zapatti
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Lindsay Duncan
as Sydney Pappas
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John Finn
as Commissioner Coonan
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Richard Gant
as Deputy Commissioner Samuels
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Sylvia Kauders
as Gussie
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Joseph Kelly
as Hospital Priest
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Edward I. Koch
as Newscaster
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Rob La Belle
as Wakeley
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Mark Lonow
as Lenny Lasker
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Lucia Mendoza
as Elaine Santos' Sister
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Roberta Peters
as Nettie Anselmo
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Larry Romano
as Tino Zapatti
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Richard Schiff
as Larry Schwartz
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Nestor Serrano
as Det. Eddie Santos
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Miguel Sierra
as Israel Torres
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Tamara Tunie
as Leslie Christos
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Mel Winkler
as Detective Holly
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John Slattery
as Intel Detective George
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Murphy Guyer
as Captain Florian
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Lauren Vélez
as Elaine Santos
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Brian Murray
as Corporation Council
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Mary Murphy
as Field Reporter
- Martin Andau
