Ever make a really complicated dinner? Sometimes you can have the perfect recipe, the freshest ingredients, and a huge appetite to match, yet after throwing everything into the pot and letting it stew, things just don’t come together properly. Broken City starring Mark Wahlberg is the cinematic equivalent of that culinary dish gone awry, because on paper it has a lot going for it - dirty cops, politicians, infidelity, city-wide corruption, and a competent cast to play things out. Despite this, none of it melds into anything resembling a riveting film, but rather a less than appetizing finished product.
In the film, Mark Wahlberg plays Billy Taggart a disgraced cop turned private investigator who is hired by the Mayor of New York City to spy on his wife. His work leads to a series of revelations that could impact a multi-billion dollar real estate deal and the NYC mayoral campaign, but may come at the steep cost of all that he holds dear in his life.
Plots of this ilk that focus on corruption, infidelity, and intrigue need to be intelligent and emotionally charged in order to work, because the challenge is to keep the viewer constantly guessing and to keep them invested in the inevitable outcome. Justice served is only a satisfying payoff if the crime is egregious enough and the emotional scarring palpable. Unfortunately, Brian Tucker’s script really falls short in the intelligence department. The plot tips its hand way too early and the mechanisms of misdirection are as transparent as a windowpane.
As for the emotional component of the script, that responsibility falls to the cast. The biggest factor working against this movie is what I call “The Erosion of Mark Wahlberg’s Credibility as a Serious Lead.” It all started harmlessly with the Andy Samberg's “Mark Wahlberg Speaks to Animals” skit on Saturday Night Live. That it was so funny, really gave birth to the realization that Wahlberg’s muscle bound machismo could serve as a great punch line. This movement picked up great steam with The Other Guys – a movie in which Wahlberg was hilarious working opposite Will Ferrell. And the deal was essentially sealed when he absolutely tore it up in Seth McFarlane’s Ted. From then on, it has been virtually impossible for me to take Wahlberg serious especially when he raises his voice an octave as a means of emoting. The guy is just naturally funny, and unfortunately, this is not good for a narrative that is all about gravitas, intrigue, and city grit.
What serves as the nail in the coffin for this troubled project is that no one is up to the task of picking up the slack for Wahlberg. There was a time when Russell Crowe was an A-lister, and when Catherine Zeta-Jones was an A-lister. Clearly we are no longer in those times. Crowe plays a NYC version of his character from Body of Lies and guess what? It still doesn’t work. The smug devil may care grin he sports in this film is spot on but nothing else is. As for Zeta-Jones, she has yet to make the transition into an actress venturing into her golden years as Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis have and thus the vampy histrionics of her youth simply do not play in this role. The net result is that her portrayal of what should be a strong and defiant first lady of NYC, feels like it is more bark than bite.
The rest of the cast has a group of notable actors in Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper, Kyle Chandler, James Ransone, and Natalie Martinez but director Allen Hughes really stifles their talents by placing them in these one dimensional characters that march in straight lines and only make ninety degree angle turns. This is supremely disappointing as they represent a diverse collection of actors that could have created an interesting mix onscreen.
When I look at the finished product, I can’t help but think that it feels like an extended episode of Law & Order or any other cop drama you can name off the top of your head. So paying for this film will leave you feeling supremely cheated. I don’t recommend this movie, but at the same time I am sure there is a segment of the population who will find some enjoyment in it. At best, this is one you should wait to catch on TNT or TBS on a night when you have a few hours to burn. You probably won’t remember the name of the movie after you watch it, but at least you won’t be kicking yourself for going out of your way.
Standout Performance: Natalie Martinez. This is the second movie I have seen Martinez in and I think that in small doses, she has done a good job of delivering authentic performances.
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