BROKEN CITY

With a pulsing soundtrack and a brooding cinematographer’s palette, New York City becomes a Broken City.

Starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe, this drama with a touch of action is a typical good guy/bad guy conspiracy-fest – in other words, just another day at the office for Wahlberg. This time he plays Billy Taggart, a rough-around-the-edges cop who gets in over his head with a snake-in-the-grass Mayor (Crowe).

There is inner-turmoil, lots of misdirection and Wahlberg gets punch-happy, as usual. Not to mention the extreme-close-up camera angles to ensure the tension is really shoved in the audience’s face. That way maybe they won’t notice all of the loose ends. Broken City is solid enough as long as expectations aren’t high. (LL) ** 1/2