Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe face off in 'Broken City'
Much of the cast, including Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jeffrey Wright, is underused in Allen Hughes' drama.
'Broken City' stars Mark Wahlberg (r.) and Russell Crowe (l.).
Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/AP
“Broken City” stars Mark Wahlberg as a New York cop and private detective who seeks redemption when he finds himself double-crossed by the mayor, played by Russell Crowe in a ratty, pomaded hairstyle that should be immediately outlawed.
Crowe doesn’t sing here, which may disappoint (or gladden) fans of “Les Misérables.” Other cast members, mostly underused and undervalued, include Jeffrey Wright as the two-faced (or is it three-faced?) police commissioner and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the mayor’s tight-jawed wife. Directed by Allen Hughes and written by Brian Tucker, the film is a collection of crime noir oddments that don’t add up to a full meal. Grade: C (Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence.)