CITY HALL

US, 1996, 110 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, John Cusack, Bridget Fonda, Danny Aiello, Martin Landau, David Paymer, Anthony Franciosa, Lindsay Duncan.
Directed by Harold Becker.

A critique of New York city politics and the use of undue influence on courts, especially by Mafia connections. This is a very well-written film with a strange ending that is both downbeat and upbeat. But most of what happens before the end is excellent. Al Pacino is at his best as the humane and canny mayor caught up in a crisis when a policeman and a mafioso shoot each other in the street and accidentally kill a little boy. Pacino's speech at the boy's funeral is a superb sequence. John Cusack is his assistant, an ambitious young man of integrity. Danny Aiello has never been better as a corrupt local politician. This is a thoughtful dramatic thriller.

1.American politics of the '90s? Politics, corruption? New York City?

2.The New York locations, official buildings, churches, Brooklyn, squalor, homes, the city streets? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score and serious tone?

3.The title, expectations, City Hall as the seat of local government? The contribution of the writers - and their personal experience of New York politics?

4.The technique of Kevin's voice-over, his comments, information, perspective, judgment? Values and morals? His perceptions of the mayor? His own moral dilemmas? His decision to stand for office - and the somewhat upbeat (even flippant) ending?

5.The opening sequences establishing the status of the mayor? Al Pacino and his screen presence, authority? The contrast with Santos and Vinnie going to the rendezvous? Police work, Mafia background? The African-American? boy and his father, preparing to go to school? The rain, the Brooklyn streets? The dramatic confrontation, the violence and mutual shooting? Vinnie escaping? The dead boy?

6.The theme of violent action, the action consequent on corruption? Responsibility - and further consequences?

7.The mayor and his ideals? Honesty, his use of political quotation, his ability in managing the city? His reliance on Kevin? His ambitions? His team of assistants, their briefing sessions? Insight into the daily routine of the mayor? The bases of his decisions? His own personal initiative? His perception of situations? People's perceptions of the mayor and his role?

8.His leaving public ceremony (and the keys of the city given to the Japanese)? His courtesy, brevity? His going to the hospital and his support of Santos's wife? His going to the black community and his offer of sympathy for the boy? His statements about violence on the streets? His going to the boy's funeral, the music, his standing at the back, the brief introduction? The background of his having given a press conference and his handling of it - and having the black leaders, especially the black religious leaders, with him? His speech during the funeral, stirring the people, having them on side? Al Pacino's acting skill in making this a rousing and significant speech? His standing at the coffin of the boy? Leaving the funeral - and his words of sincerity in the car? His decision not to go to the Santos funeral? His distancing himself from Santos? Going to Washington?

9.Frank Anselmo - in himself, seeing him working with the constituent and his knowing everybody, making phone calls, everybody dependent on him? Schwartz and his visit to Frank, indicating that the information had got out? The discussions with Kevin, his refusal to listen to Kevin about the infrastructure, walking out on the breakfast? Singing with the waiter, loving Rodgers and Hammerstein, going to see Carousel and singing and mouthing the songs? His deals with the mayor during the performance? Meeting with his real estate friends and pressurising them? The Mafia links, the meeting with the Mafia boss? The $40,000 to plant in Santos's home? The increasing number of deaths? His meeting at home with the Mafia boss, discussions with his wife, going out, playing music from Carousel and killing himself?

10.The two Mafia cousins, the probationary report and its being suppressed? Vinnie wanting to do the deal, talking with Santos? The talk, his meeting with Kevin and the lawyer? His subsequent death? The uncle as the Mafia boss, icy control, making the decisions? Ordering the deaths? The $40,000 planted on Santos's home? The discussions with Frank and his cutting him loose?

11.Santos, his police work, not having back-up, wanting to pin down Tito? His death? The Santos family, the wife, the visit by Internal Affairs, the corrupt investigator - and his planting the $40,000? Her relationship with her lawyer, their discussions, being advised by the lawyer?

12.Abe and his Jewish background, working with Kevin, sound advice? Admiration for the mayor? The visit to Schwartz and his knowing that something was wrong? Continued guidance in finding the probation statement? The upstate parole officer and his having left New York, the information, his being scared? Schwartz ringing Kevin and his death in the telephone booth?

13.Kevin as the hero of the film: the background of his life in Louisiana, relationship with his father, the mayor as a father figure? Working in Washington, admiring John and his ideals? Three years of advice, deputy mayor? His information, not caring about his own home life and the mayor's concern about it? The dinner and the discussion about holding the convention in New York? The encounter with the lawyer, initial antagonism? Friendship, giving her the lift after the funeral, meeting Santos's partner? Their working together, discussions with Vinnie and the boat? The aftermath and his death? Kevin's visit to Frank Anselmo and his rejection? The visit to the judge? The discerning of the truth? Discussions with Schwartz, the help of Abe, going upstate with the lawyer, getting more information, finding out about the second document? The delay, the murders? His realisation of what had happened, the final confrontation with the mayor? The significance of the mayor's speech - and his own disillusionment and his own decision to run for office? The light-hearted touch of the campaign in the streets, meeting the lawyer - and their future together? The irony that he didn't win - but would try again?

14.Bridget Fonda as the lawyer, her intensity, at the press conferences, with Mrs Santos, at the funeral, clash with Kevin, attracted to him, giving him information, the discussions with the partner, with Vinnie, with the upstate probation officer? The happy ending?

15.Al Pacino as the mayor, strong character, family background, his wife? Ability at socialising and yet attentiveness to business? His assistants? Reliance on Kevin, friendship, concern about his health and welfare? The past contacts with Frank Anselmo, the information from the Mafia chief? Influencing the judge? The cover-ups? Personal integrity versus personal sincerity and ambition?

16.The judge and his decision, opening up of the case, his conscience, his discussions about the money with Kevin, his resignation? The assistant - and the information that the mayor had telephoned?

17.The political and judicial system? Corruption, the history of New York City? Great or not? New York as a microcosm of the US? A film of political ethics?