Broken City
Directed by Allen Hughes
- thriller
- crime
- drama
The story
In a broken city rife with injustice, ex-cop Billy Taggart seeks redemption and revenge after being double-crossed and then framed by its most powerful figure, the mayor. Billy's relentless pursuit of justice, matched only by his streetwise toughness, makes him an unstoppable force - and the mayor's worst nightmare.
What it’s like
Grey, rain-slicked New York streets and dim municipal offices lit by cold fluorescents and the blue wash of late-night television, with handheld camera work that stays close to its tired, combative lead as he moves through crowded precincts, bars and corridors of power. The palette runs to muddy browns, wet asphalt and smoke-hazed interiors, and the grain feels gritty without being stylised. The score leans on driving percussion and low synth pulse, cutting to near silence during quieter confrontations. The mood is hard-bitten and simmering, a cynical noir thriller with a restless, weary edge that suits a late-night watch alone or a wet weekend when you want tension and sharp dialogue. Pacing is brisk, with the investigation tightening steadily, and its people's arcs centre on a disgraced cop refusing to be quietly erased. Violence is present and sudden: fistfights, gunfire and a few brutal beats, with blood and moderate gore but no sustained horror. Profanity and sexual innuendo are frequent. It is for viewers who enjoy political corruption dramas and gruff, morally grey protagonists.
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