Mad City was a fair film. Great story , great actors but it lacked that powerful 'must see factor' which Falling Down had in spades. A story of our time. Uneducated Sam Bailey ( John Travolta ) loses his Security Guard job and pleads for his job back , with a shot-gun and bag full of explosives. Not the brightest thing to do , but who is in the Museum with the kids and Curator. Brackett( Dustin Hoffman). This is his last shot at the big time after apparently humiliating his last boss on live TV.
The plot thickens once a shooting accident occurs and the Police surround the Museum , Sam Bailey has lost control ...after all , he only wanted his job back. The town and Police begin to crave Sam Bailey's blood , and the journo Brackett gives Sam his only way out. Public Opinion.
The man who loses his job , in order to protect his family and pride makes in-roads of support in public opinion . A folk hero is in the making , even songs about him are played outside. However the accident earlier brings all the 'media spinning' down to a thud. Events slip away , distortion takes the place of truth , vengeance replaces compassion and the increasing polarisation of feeling leads to a media and political frenzy that ensures the one and only outcome in this tragic farcical affair. Brackett is forced to confront his own hand in the fate of Sam Bailey and begins to feel that unknown quality that passes many an ambitious journalism by...conscience. The folk hero is quickly turned into a hate figure , all because the main story was passed on to the main competition.
The ending is dramatic , Dustin Hoffman's performance was nothing less than excellent.John Travolta was great in this role , but when I think of this film , the words " Is there anyone out there" takes on a complete new meaning. Yes Sam Bailey , we are out here and like you , we dont understand why? As well.
The plot thickens once a shooting accident occurs and the Police surround the Museum , Sam Bailey has lost control ...after all , he only wanted his job back. The town and Police begin to crave Sam Bailey's blood , and the journo Brackett gives Sam his only way out. Public Opinion.
The man who loses his job , in order to protect his family and pride makes in-roads of support in public opinion . A folk hero is in the making , even songs about him are played outside. However the accident earlier brings all the 'media spinning' down to a thud. Events slip away , distortion takes the place of truth , vengeance replaces compassion and the increasing polarisation of feeling leads to a media and political frenzy that ensures the one and only outcome in this tragic farcical affair. Brackett is forced to confront his own hand in the fate of Sam Bailey and begins to feel that unknown quality that passes many an ambitious journalism by...conscience. The folk hero is quickly turned into a hate figure , all because the main story was passed on to the main competition.
The ending is dramatic , Dustin Hoffman's performance was nothing less than excellent.John Travolta was great in this role , but when I think of this film , the words " Is there anyone out there" takes on a complete new meaning. Yes Sam Bailey , we are out here and like you , we dont understand why? As well.