New York City policemen Billy Taggert (Mark Wahlberg) stands over a deceased hispanic male, gunshot to the young man’s head. Accusations of a murder arise, claiming the presumed criminal was defenseless, the officer shooting him on a basis of revenge where the delinquent got away with raping and beating a 16-year-old girl to death. Though there are supposed witnesses against the officer, there is no undeniable evidence present to support the claim, therefore a relieved officer Taggert walks free, proclaimed innocent.
The main story picks up 7 years later, officer Taggert having resigned from the police force, opting to run his own business as a private eye investigator. Primarily he takes contracts to track husbands or wives to expose their affairs. Unfortunately for him, he has a bevy of clients who do not like to pay him for his services. So, when Mayor Charlie Hostetler (Russell Crowe) reaches out to contract the detective to investigate his wife Cathleen Hostetler (Catherine Zeta-Jones) for what he says he expects is an affair, Billy Taggert is quick to take the contract, which will pay $50,000, $25,000 at the start, $25,000 at the conclusion.
The story is very interesting, keeping the attention of viewers. Nothing is really as it seems, leaving one thinking one understands what is happening, then reframing the mind around new threads of the story to adjust to the fact you have just been told you are wrong. The script is well written to carry two seemingly separate, yet closely interwoven story lines. The other half of the story follows an approaching mayoral election between standing mayor Charlie Hostetler and opponent Jack Valliant (Barry Pepper). It is reflective of a true political election race in annoyance and he-said-he-said disagreements. The one thing I would say seems unreal is how each candidate attacks the other, one blatantly calling the other a liar, because political correctness usually does not allow such a thing.
Mark Wahlberg–what can I say about him?–plays Mark Wahlberg, which is not at all a bad thing. Sometimes a casting director sees a role for a specific actor, and when he gets him, you begin to understand why the actor plays a different character similarly to how he played in a past role. But Wahlberg plays well and very believable.
Russell Crowe as Mayor Charlie Hostetler is the true star here, in my opinion. He gets all the political gusto right, delivering both lines and gestures like the well trained professionals. This is where the aforementioned annoyance comes in, but it is realistic because I find politicians irritating. Barry Pepper also provides a good imitation of a politician, though he is the one delivering the more unrealistic, non-political correct lines, however, that is more of a scripting issue.
Catherine Zeta Jones gets a very small amount of screen time in comparison to the other two mega stars, but she gives a good performance with the time she is given. As a politician’s wife, Cathleen Hostetler is the strong, confident woman so many first ladies are. Zeta-Jones uses a handful of the skills she has acquired and honed over her long career to express emotions and fit the mood of the lines she is saying.
Jeffrey Wright, Kyle Chandler, Natalie Martinez, who plays Mark Wahlberg’s onscreen actress aspiring girlfriend, Alona Tal, Griffin Dunne, and James Ransone all give solid and noteworthy supporting performances.
I really enjoyed Broken City, even more so than I thought I would. To anyone remotely interested, and even those skeptical, I recommend it.
