A satire on the media and as well as a slight comment on law enforcement, the film has plenty to say, and its ideas come across rather well, even if the character studies are a bit flat. The situation that is presented in the film is intense and quite fascinating, although it does turn a bit too much towards spectacle in the final third of the film. The politics - the ethics and rivalry for ratings - at hand are very interesting, and the film raises a number of thought provoking ideas. Hoffman is superb as the news reporter struggling for a good story, and Alda plays his rival with the exact amount of cynicism required for the part. It is a bit hectic, and the directing work tends to rely on clichés, plus the messages are ultimately pushed a little far in that they becoming numbing, but there are quite a few virtues to make up for possible shortcomings. The editing, with transitions between television sets, provides an interesting feel, and Thomas Newman has composed some interesting music for the material. While not the best film out there, nor even the best media satire, it is surprising that this film has not received a warmer reception. It might not be perfect, but it certainly deserves some attention.
