Mad City

Synopsis: Sam Baily, upset over losing his job, takes a natural history museum hostage. Max Brackett, journalist, is in the museum when this occurs, and gets the scoop. The story spreads nation wide, and soon it is all anyone talks about. The story itself is the news, not the reason why or the real people behind it.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director(s): Costa-Gavras
Production: Warner Home Video
  1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
6.2
Metacritic:
45
Rotten Tomatoes:
37%
PG-13
Year:
1997
115 min
2,082 Views


Any comments about | a possible indictment?

I have to get to the hospital.

Perhaps you can empathize | with the people...

...who've been wiped out | of their savings.

- What about them? | - No comment.

You know how many people | you've hurt?

How many senior citizens | over the age of 65...?

Mr. Burns may have had | no comment for KXBD...

...but he may find his voice | for the district attorney.

Inquiries made prompted | an investigation...

in the Foothill Federal Bank scandal.

- We're not using that. | - It's an exclusive.

It's conjecture.

Let me have another crack. | Tell him to answer me.

- Why? | - You're not a judge. We're not a jury.

- Lou, you know him, right? | - Yes.

- You play golf. | - Yes.

His wife has cancer. Leave him alone.

- Wait. Three questions. | - No.

He's a sleaze. He stole money.

He took the savings...

We say that the man has no comment. | We don't ambush him at work.

- I just wanna ask him one question. | - No!

You are relentless, you know?

You forget, we cover the news...

...of this area | for the people of this area.

And we are not going anyplace. | Are we going anyplace, Max?

- If they wanted me in New York... | - They don't.

You better come to terms with that.

In the 11 months I've been here, | you've gone from a 3 share to a 9.

Excuse me! Excuse me, people!

Whose week was it | to kiss Max Brackett's ass?

- It makes you look like network. | - There's a line I won't cross.

I'm not asking you that.

I'm saying, move the line, | you get the story.

- Bob, are you going out to the museum? | - Yeah.

Mr. Brackett's taking that assignment.

The state has let off | some people there.

You'll relate to the story.

- I have to finish my edit. | - I'll do it.

You are an a**hole.

- What am I? | - A wonderful human being.

Laurie? Go down to the museum | with Mr. Brackett.

You could run tape. | Maybe we'll use it.

She's an intern.

Then you can be her mentor. | Teach her how to move the line.

- Hi. | - I'm gay.

- Mr. Brackett? | - Max.

- Max, can I put a microphone on you? | - Yes.

We'll get the curator to tell us | why the museum faces budget cuts.

Then we'll find a few locals | to tell us...

...that without it, | the city's a dog kennel.

And then you're taking me to lunch.

- Answer. | - You're done.

- That the answer? You did it wrong. | - What?

It's much better on the lapel.

- We're looking for the curator. | - I know you. TV, right?

- Right. | - You're the TV guy.

- You're the museum guy. | - The guard.

- The museum has financial problems? | - Tell me about it.

There used to be two of us. | You never know who's gonna be next.

Maybe we'll get you | to say that on camera.

All right. You'll find | Mrs. Banks through there.

- We don't pay much. | - More than I make here.

Not the Mohawks. The Miwoks | are from northern California...

...and have a rich past.

We exhibit the largest display | of Indian baskets...

...assembled by a museum.

Some say it's not responsible to pour | money into a dying institution.

Then let's close the libraries | and symphonies.

If we do not learn from our past, | we will be...

... doomed to relive it.

- Yes, Mort. | - I see dinosaurs.

The fear is that the museum | might share the same fate.

That's right, Mort.

- Very good. Thanks.

- It's okay, Mort. | - Okay, we're clear.

- You must've done this before. | - Good heavens, no. I haven't.

I feel strongly about the museum. | My great-grandfather founded it.

I thank you and wish you the best.

Hey, you, come on down from there.

- In the next room is a stuffed dodo. | - No!

- The mike. | - Why are they together?

One's Cretaceous, | the other's Jurassic.

- Yes, I know. Come on, let's go. | - Why are they together?

Stop being such an idiot.

Wanna get some B-roll outside?

- Where's the bathroom? | - Right there.

Get ready. | I'll do a standup for the news.

Sorry. Sorry.

I'm in front of the museum...

...where the past collides | with the present.

No, you're standing at the urinal | at the museum. Look who's here.

Your friend, Dick, | an upstanding young man.

No, no longer upstanding.

Tell me, Dick, what's your comment?

Max, I think you should get packed.

I got screwed there. | But that's more than you get here.

As long we're on the subject, | I have a little tickle...

...for that camera girl working | for you. Really?

She's just right for me.

Sam? You shouldn't be here.

Mrs. Banks, you gotta listen.

- I don't have to do anything. | - One minute.

- There's nothing I can do. | - I'll take a reduction.

- Do you have a hearing problem? | - No.

- This is out of my hands. | - But...

You're wasting both of our times. | You must leave now.

You get out of here!

Right now!

Now will you listen? | Will you listen now?

Are you? Are you gonna listen to me?

- You gotta be kidding. | - No, I'm not.

Hold up, hold up!

Now just stay there, okay? | And hush up.

And don't be scared of the gun. | I gotta talk to her.

I need five minutes with you, | that's all.

- Don't point that at me. | - Just be quiet.

Is this some kind of a joke?

It won't be so funny | when the police arrive.

Shut up!

Give me the keys.

Come on, give me the keys.

Damn.

- Come over here. This way. | - Quietly.

Laurie? Laurie?

- I hope we get to see shooting. | - Yeah.

Van 2, this is Laurie.

from Max Brackett?

Okay. Mr. Brack... I mean, Max?

- There's a man with a gun in here. | - Where are you?

- The museum. | - Okay, I'm gonna call the police.

No, call Lou first. | We have to go live again.

I think I should call...

We have real news going on here. | Don't blow this.

Okay, I'll call Lou.

Lou, line three. | It's Laurie. It's urgent.

Laurie.

- It's Brackett. What do you got? | - Gunman.

He's got a rifle and a canvas bag, | maybe more firepower.

He's holding two adults and some kids.

Laurie, how soon | before you can power back up?

- Two minutes. | - That's too long.

Tell Dohlen to go live with Max. | Hostage situation.

Mort's gonna throw it to you. | Listen to me.

There are kids involved. | We don't want grandstanding.

- Don't worry. We got good stuff. | - Keep the line open.

Okay, we're live.

We go to Max Brackett, | who's inside the museum...

...with a hostage situation. Max?

no more than...

Mobilize every camera | and audio crew.

- Most of them are children. | - What are his motives?

I can tell you that the gunman | does seem very agitated.

Do you have any means of escape?

- Can you hear me? | - Think about what you're doing.

- Can you hear me, Max? | - Does Jen know you're here?

Max, can you...

I don't know how much...

- Be calm. | - I got two things to tell you.

I'm not as long as you hold that gun...

- Mrs. Banks. | - Why should I? This is absurd.

- Mrs. Banks! | - Get that away from me!

Yeah!

Oh, God!

Oh, Cliff? Cliff? Please.

- That was a shot? | - Cut the feed.

before we pulled the plug.

- What a**hole pulled the plug? | - We're still live.

You did it. You did it.

He's okay. He's okay.

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Tom Matthews

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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