Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- gritty
- paranoid
- tense
- crime thriller night
- neo-noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the talented cast and polished cinematography unable to overcome a thin, formulaic, and improbable screenplay.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Billy's investigation implicates the mayor, police leadership, election campaigns, and the suppression of evidence.
Billy loses his police career after being prosecuted and later returns to investigative work while confronting the forces that ruined him.
Critics specifically noted the film's autumnal glow, while its New York streets and corruption plot draw on neo-noir visual conventions.
The mayor hires Billy during an election week, and the investigation connects a murder to his opponent's campaign.
Films like Broken City, and why
L.A. Confidential
shared neo-noir investigation, urban corruption, political power struggles, and morally compromised protagonists
State of Play
shared political thriller framework, institutional corruption, conspiracy, and investigative suspense
The Departed
shared gritty crime investigation, betrayal, revenge motives, and bleak urban atmosphere
The Lincoln Lawyer
shared contemporary noir tone, corrupt institutions, and a private investigator uncovering a dangerous conspiracy
Movie Details
- Director
- Allen Hughes
- Release Date
- 2013-01-18
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (1615)
Cast
- Mark Wahlberg
- Russell Crowe
- Catherine Zeta-Jones
- Jeffrey Wright
- Barry Pepper
- Alona Tal
- Natalie Martinez
- Michael Beach
- Kyle Chandler
- James Ransone
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Broken City about?
- A disgraced ex-cop turned private investigator uncovers a deadly conspiracy reaching from a mayoral election into New York's police and political institutions.
- What is Broken City like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Broken City as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Broken City violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Broken City as moderate.
- What did critics think of Broken City?
- Critics broadly found the talented cast and polished cinematography unable to overcome a thin, formulaic, and improbable screenplay.
- Which films are like Broken City?
- Films with a similar feel include L.A. Confidential, State of Play, The Departed, and The Lincoln Lawyer.
- How long is Broken City?
- Broken City runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch Broken City?
- In United States, Broken City streams on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
