Mad City (1997)

A small-time reporter finds himself in the middle of a hostage crisis. But will it be a career opportunity?
A small-time reporter (Dustin Hoffman) opportunely finds himself in the middle of a hostage crisis at a local museum and uses it to further his own career rather than acting in the interests of the captives. This twist on Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole (1951) seizes on the theme of cynicism in the media and how we are all susceptible to its manipulations.
1997 USA
Directed by
Costa-Gavras
Produced by
Arnold Kopelson, Anne Kopelson
Written by
Tom Matthews
Featuring
Dustin Hoffman, John Travolta, Alan Alda
Running time
115 minutes