John Cusack plays the deputy mayor of New York City, Kevin Calhoun; alongside Al Pacino's Mayor John Pappas. There were four writers that worked on this script. That's too much collaboration. The result is a script that is lifeless and a storyline that is lacking. It's contrived and easy to see where things are going.

The cast is flawless. Cusack is brazen as the adrenaline-charged right hand mman to the Mayor. The film does enjoy a sense of redemption through some of the dialogue, which is at times--witty. Had Pacino, Cusack, Martin Landau, Danny Aiello and Bridget Fonda been given better material to work with, the flick wouldn't be such a drag.

Cut back somme of the verbose speeches and tone down the political element and focus more on the connection and chemistry between the diverse array of talent and we have a winner.