The movie can basically be regarded as Al Pacino's one-man show, portraying a decent, brotherly, but also compromising and sleek politician. There is probably no other person in Hollywood in 1996 who can do this. It is said that in order to prepare for this role, he specially asked the then and two former mayors of New York for advice.
Many fans say that the scene at the boy's funeral is the most brilliant. I agree that the passionate speech is really impressive. But there was another scene, although it was just a few quiet lines, it shocked me even more, and it directly revealed the main point of the film, which was unforgettable for a long time.
At the end of the film, the young deputy mayor found the mayor to confront him. The mayor’s answer (according to impression):
"This is black, this is white, and most of them are gray. You and I...
deal with people. But always for legitimate reasons, I know in my heart that there is a bottom line that cannot be crossed, and then after thousands of transactions, there are too many, and that bottom line is gradually blurred...
But strangely, I still have dreams in my heart. Really, that dream has never left..." The
screenwriter is a veteran of writing political stories, so the description of political figures is very accurate. But despite the murder, conspiracy and betrayal, the whole plot is still too beautiful and complete. Every politician actually has a conscience in his heart, and the final solution is as simple as idealism. After all, it is still a typical Hollywood production.
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