ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 17, 1996 TAG: 9602190116
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
The first half of "City Hall" is a realistic look at contemporary politics. The second half is a disappointing crime story.
Not surprisingly then, the whole film is less than the sum of the two parts.
John Pappas (Al Pacino) is the ambitious Democratic mayor of New York. He's ready to bring the national party convention to his town and to ride it to the White House. Kevin Calhoun (John Cusack) is either "the mayor's right-hand man" or "the mayor's boy," depending on who's talking. In either case, he's a smart, dedicated guy who believes completely in his boss.
When a 6-year-old black boy is killed during a police shootout, Calhoun's first concern is to see that it doesn't reflect badly on Pappas.
The matter also comes to involve a slick party boss (Danny Aiello), a respected judge (Martin Landau) and a gangster (Tony Franciosa) who doesn't like to see his picture in the papers. Further complicating matters is a police lawyer (Bridget Fonda, who does little with an unnecessary role).
For a time, the mixture of deal-making and image-building seems like an accurate portrait of day-to-day government. Pacino is absolutely believable in the intimate schmoozing scenes, and in the showy dramatic moments, he really commands the screen. His big stemwinder speech is the film's emotional and dramatic highpoint. Unfortunately, there's more than an hour to go after it's finished.
Despite some cliched attempts at plot complications and physical action, director Harold Becker lets the pace drag and the film runs out of steam. Four writers get screen credit, and that probably had something to do with the unsteady narrative focus.
In the end, "City Hall" is a right-minded attempt gone awry.
City Hall
**
A Columbia TriStar release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View 6. 106 min. Rated R for strong language, violence.
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: John Cusack (left) and Al Pacino star in ``City Hall.''by CNB