How sad is this?

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Travolta does a superb job of playing a semi-educated yet noble working man who doesn't know how to deal with bad luck. He doesn't even understand that his lay-off isn't his fault and nothing can be done about it. He stumbles into a hostage taking situation and initially is too upset to agree to anything, including immediate surrender. The theme is not altogether incredible in our times an embittered employee going berserk and threatening violence. Problem is that Travolta is saddled with the challenge to portray this unwitting hostage-taker, part antagonist and part victim. I'd contend that he failed to bring out this delicate dichotomy. Even Hoffman's full-blooded newsman with a childish, self-centered ambition and some very sardonic light moments in the earlier half, cannot save the film from its maudlin second half, by which time it's already too late for us to care. The screenwriters added bit of humor to this involving story and that made it even better. It's a decent entertainment and certainly recommended.Overall rating: 7 out of 10.

I love Dustin Hoffman. He is an actor who will rarely sell you short (not pun intended) he is fantastic in everything I have seen him in, from 'Marathon Man' and 'Kramer V's Kramer' his Oscar winning turn in 'Rain Man' or 'Mr Magoriums Wonder Emporium' and 'Tootsie'. He is always a delight to watch, and the fact that he teams up with A popular again (thanks to 'Pulp Fiction') John Travolta should have made this immediate viewing. But for some reason this movie escaped me.And the main reason is probably Travolta, I liked him growing up thanks to 'Grease', 'Saturday Night Fever' 'Stayin' Alive' and 'Look Who's Talking' but as I entered my teens I became bored of him, I thought his turn in 'Pulp Fiction' was over rated, and although I enjoyed 'Phenomenon' nothing else I'd seen him in convinced me otherwise. An out of favour reporter (Hoffman) is sent to a Museum to cover a "bit of fluff" story and finds himself in the middle of a great story when a sacked security guard (Travolta) takes some visiting children hostage. Of the supporting cast Robert Prosky was solid as Hoffman's boss, and Mia Krishner as his ambitious protégé Laurie is OK. Alan Alda is as wonderful as he always is as the egotistical anchorman. Hoffman is as reliable as you'd expect as the reporter who manipulates the situation up help revive his career. But Travolta is the star here, his likable, every man who is down on his luck has you rooting for him, despite the fact that he is holding children hostage at gunpoint. Given the talent on show I'm surprised this failed to find an audience.

The problems when you've seen as many films as I have, is when you watch one which reminds you of a far superior version of it.Take Mad City. It's a social satire about the media's role in the death of a museum security guard (John Travolta). He just wants his job back after being fired, but is quickly turned into a love/hate figure by the TV and radio stations. What he thought was going to be a simple case of threatening his old boss with a gun to achieve his aims, quickly escalates into a hostage situation... As he unwittingly takes a party of children prisoner and the cameras and police cars end up parked outside. Because of the guy's lack of intelligence, he doesn't have a clue what he's doing, or how to get out of it.Fear ye not though, as a fallen reporter (Dustin Hoffman) happened to be in the museum bathroom at the time, and becomes part of the crisis. Seeing this as a chance to get back into the big leagues, he manipulates Travolta into maximising his own publicity... and this average Joe starts striking a chord with the American public everywhere when he start broadcasting his tales of woe. However, the audience's affections are notoriously fickle, and further revelations could jeopardise his newfound fame...You have vendors outside selling commemorative T-shirts, and the cops refusing to charge in until they see the latest opinion polls for this dude. Hence the title, Mad City. Even the sanest lose their head in such heated circumstances, and fanned by the flames of saturation coverage, EVERYONE has an opinion. But I seem to remember this type of story being done with a lot more authenticity and panache in Dog Day Afternoon. That movie explored issues which Mad City wouldn't even touch, and a much more credible set-up too.This one starts off well, but becomes more cartoon-like as it goes along. Travolta and Hoffman's partnership never really gels, and the latter's heel face-turn two thirds of the way through with little provocation seems implausible to say the least. It's a very basic, bare-bones version of a fascinating concept, and can only be recommended to those who couldn't deal with the complexities that are apparent in features of a similar ilk.One of which is apparently called Ace In The Hole. Guess what I'll be watching next... 5/10

Man, this was some indictment of the television-reporter-mentality! It was exaggerated, of course, but still interesting to see and in many respects good to see because of the onslaught of tabloid-mentality journalism that seems to have taken over the media in recent years. That kind of "reporting" should be exposed and ridiculed.Whatever, you can enjoy this film for the acting alone with Dustin Hoffman, John Travolta, Alan Alda, Robert Prosky, Mia Kirschner and Ted Levine. These actors, and some good dialog, make the film move along at a good clip despite the absence of much happening on screen.The story gets you involved and reminds me of the famous 70s film, Dog Day Afternoon, in which much of the film takes place in a bank. Here, it's a museum, and a man is in a predicament something like Al Pacino was in that film except Travolta's character here is totally innocent.The screenwriters added bit of humor to this involving story and that made it even better. It's very good entertainment and certainly recommended.