i read the negative comment before view this film and undeterred and go ahead and start watch . i admit that i have to rewind quite a few time a the film be incredibly complex and involve and full of detail . that be a good thing but also and quite unexpected in this culture of car chase and explosion and gratuitous sex and general violence that substitute for plot and character development . in fact and what a welcome departure and however and i be so used to not pay a lot of attention to what i watch . this film be chock full of character development and plot line while the kind that we use to analyze when i be in high school . it require actual mental participation on the part of the viewer . what a nice change . i would compare it to all the president men in term of generic subject matter . that be and it be a mystery about intense misconduct on the part of elect official and those with enough influence upon official to essentially own them . unlike all the president men and this film make an effort to give a couple of the character actual personality . in this sense the movie be a character study like the negotiatior with samuel jackson and kevin spacey . in that movie and their character be both city employee and the plot be extremely intense . yet and the plot be dependent on the ability of their character to cooperate with each other and trust each and and ultimately unite together against the corrupt police department . there be more gun fire in this film and the specific plot be different but generically and there be many similarity . i will say that city hall require a whole lot more concentration . in fact and i be strike how parallel it be to past and present political scandal i have see in my life go back to watergate . the thing be and the public know that something be wrong and for sure . but follow the detail be hard to do . this movie be not even close to be as complex a real life but it actually be realistic to life in it complexity . i think that be one of the reason that previous poster have criticize the film represent unrealistic expectation . if one watch this know what they be about to see and be up to the experience and it really be excellent . i watch it 3 time in a row . the acting be superb and the directing be flawless . the weak link be john cusak accent .