be a transplant new yorker and i might be more critical than most in watch city hall . but i have to say that before even get to the story itself i be captivate by the location shooting and the political atmosphere of new york city that director harold becker create . for example there a reference to woerner restaurant in brooklyn where political bos frank anselmo like to eat . there be or be a woerner restaurant on remsen street in downtown brooklyn when i live in new york back in 1996. it be in fact particularly favor by political people in the borough though they do have a couple of other hangout . no surprise because the script be co author by nicholas pileggi who still write both political and organize crime story . he know the atmosphere quite well and he sure know how those two world cross a they do in this film . a detective play by nestor serrano go for an unofficial meeting with a relative of mob bos anthony franciosa and thing erupt and three people wind up dead and include an innocent 6 year old boy whose father be walk him to school . the story mushroom and at the end it reach inside city hall itself . al pacino play mayor john pappa and john cusack be his deputy mayor a transplanted louisianan and a state which have a tradition of genteel corruption itself . he the outsider here and in try to do damage control and cusack find more than he bargain for and danny aiello play brooklyn political bos frank anselmo and for those of you not from new york and his character be base on the late borough president of queen donald mane who be also bring down by scandal . he very much the kind of brooklyn politician i know back in the day whose friendship with organize crime and favor do for them and do aiello in . city hall be the farewell performance on film for anthony franciosa and one of the most underrated and under appreciated talent ever on the screen . no one watch anyone else whenever he on . al pacino best moment be when at the funeral of the young child kill and he take over the proceeding and turn it into a political triumph for himself . his be a complex part and he a decent enough man and but one catch up in the corruption it take to rise in a place like new york . for those who want to know about political life in the big apple and city hall be highly recommended .