#TomMatthews

[adamwatchesmovies]

Mad City (1997)

I love a final confrontation in which a muscular hero blows the villain into a thousand pieces but sometimes I want more. Although the story Mad City tells is pretty obvious and you've likely seen it done before, probably better, it still works. It's a thriller whose solution to the final conflict can't be found at the end of a gun barrel, and a critique of broadcast news. It's tight and intense.

Max (Dusting Hoffman) is a has-been TV reporter who witnesses a disgruntled employee (John Travolta) take a group of schoolchildren hostage inside a museum. Literally in the middle of the biggest story the town's ever seen, Max begins influencing the gunman to his advantage.

There are a lot of individual pieces to keep track of and they’re all moving independently but also influencing each other. Max is not a likable character at first. He has little empathy for those around him, he's bitter and ruthless. Say what you will about his tactics and the way he not only endangers lives but arguably makes the hostage situation worse, he's an expert at what he does. You keep your eyes fixed on him because he knows the ins and outs of the TV reporting business. He always asks the right questions, knows where to put the camera, who to interview and what to do to make this “simple” hostage situation into a layered story. His character arc is predictable and obvious but entertaining and there's more to him than it seems at first.

While the strange game of chess is being played inside the museum, a lot is taking place outside. Everyone reporting the story is trying to act nice. They’re all pretending to be professionals, but the news people are snakes. Max isn't the only one who will embrace underhanded tactics, cut deals, fudge facts, or destroy someone's life to get the scoop. Though characters approach the realm of cartoon villainy, you can see and understand how they validate their actions. You’ve got Max trying to do one thing within. You’ve got the reporters on the outside taking a completely different approach because they don’t know the situation like the people on the front line do.

As time passes, the situation gets intense. The machinations of Max and the other reports keep you intrigued, as do the unveiling of the characters' true personalities. The plot compels you to keep watching. Have we seen scenarios like this before? Yes. That doesn’t make it less enticing. As the plot continues, your attitude towards the players will keep changing. Are you siding against Max? For a time, but that will change. Then you may suddenly find yourself on team Sam, then against him, and so forth.

Why anyone decided to call this film Mad City, I've no idea. It's neither memorable nor particularly evocative of the plot. While down the line I think anyone who sees this film will find a better version of it somewhere, in the meantime, it works. (On DVD, February 19, 2015)

[beyondtvseries]

Selfie game = 💯

[truekittenking-blog]

Name

Remember when i thought Tommy was short for You guessed it Tommatthew Bc i do.

[trcshmouthtczier-blog]

tommy x matthew!!!

tommy && matthew: a soundtrack of their lives.

opening credits: treat you better cover by sam tsui and casey breeves ( click )meeting for the first time: one dance x marvin’s room cover by shawn mendes ( click )hey, i kinda like you: stitches by shawn mendes and hailee steinfeld ( click )i’m going to kiss you now: starving acoustic by hailee steinfeld, grey ft. zedd ( click )falling in love: sex by the 1975 ( click )your place or mine: do i wanna know? by arctic monkeys ( click )naked in bed: daddy issues by the neighbourhood ( click )first fight: somebody else by the 1975 ( cLICK )maybe we should take a break: if i believe you by the 1975 ( click click click )i want you back: this must be my dream by the 1975 ( cLICK HERE )will you marry me: pressure by the 1975 ( click )we’re getting older: snap out of it by arctic monkeys ( click )if you die i’ll go with you: naive by the kooks ( click )end credits: cough syrup by young the giant ( click )

[beyondtvseries]

Just announced at #TCA17! #Beyond has been picked up for Season 2! 🎉🎊🎉

[beyondtvseries]

The Beyond cast looking picture perfect! 🙌

[beyondtvseries]

The cast all together at the #Beyond panel at the #TCAs!

[beyondtvseries]

Byeeeeeee. 👋 #Beyond