Allen Hughes talks Broken CityBy Wilson Morales
January 17, 2013
Coming out this week is the cop drama Broken City, which is directed by Allen Hughes. For nearly two decades, Allen, along with his twin Albert, were known as the Hughes brothers, who made such gritty films such as Menace II Society, Dead Presidents, From Hell, and most recently, The Book of Eli.
In his first solo gig without Albert, Allen has assembled quite a stellar cast with the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper, and Kyle Chandler.
Wahlberg plays an ex-cop Billy Taggart who seeks redemption and revenge after being double-crossed and then framed by its most powerful figure: Mayor Nicholas Hostetler (played by Crowe)
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Allen talked about his first gig on his own and working with the cast on ‘Broken City.’
What was the challenge in doing your first film without your brother, Albert?
Allen Hughes: I think the challenge was bracing myself for the unexpected. I think I was comfortable and the filmmaking process was cool. It wasn’t simple but it was good to sit in the captain’s chair for a change. The biggest challenge were the meeting, in and around Hollywood; and putting the film together when there’s eight people in the room and you don’t have your brother. That was a big challenge.
How did the project come to you and when did you decide that you wanted to do it solo?
AH: My agent sent it to me and said, “You have to read this script.” It was a really great story and there wasn’t any studio attached to it. It was a spec script and it was good. It had these characters and twists and turns. We don’t see too many movies like this anymore. I quickly sent it to Mark (Wahlberg). I thought he was right for the role. He came on immediately and he helped with the financing. Within six months, we had it finance and there was never any concern about where’s my brother. We got lucky.
Mark is also on board as a producer, so how was working with him while he’s wearing two hats as a producer and actor?
AH: It was priceless. He’s good at getting the financing together and he’s good at when it comes to the marketing. He’s also great at supporting me and my casting decisions so I don’t have to deal with a bunch of BS. He was great.
How was working with the rest of the cast?
AH: It was great and I’m not just saying that. They were all different and such a challenge in a different way. They are very different people. You want to make sure that they are comfortable, honest, and in pursuit of the truth of the story.
Is there any signature reminiscent to the film you had done with your brother. Will we see some grittiness and edginess in the film?
AH: Yeah. It gives the improvisational moody random acts of violence that come and go really quickly. There are definitely some elements from the Hughes Bros., but it’s not a Hughes Bros. film.
How was shooting in New York?
AH: That was challenging and trying to find new way to shoot it. I don’t think we found a new way but we found an interesting way.
How is this film any different from similar films such as City Hall?
AH: That film you are referring to had no edge, and God bless him, and it lacked that thing where that director (Harold Becker), early in his career, was really thorough and he was the master. What sets this film from those is that it’s contemporary, it has edge, it has dimensions, and it has plots, twists, and turns over the theme of redemption and corruption. It’s trying to find the definition of justice.
From the time you and your brother had Menace II Society to being on your own, there was always a long gap in between projects. What was the reason behind that and why did it take til now for you to come out on your own?
AH: When you get success that age of 19, it tends to make you want to experience life and bring life back into your work. We had already had such a rich life leading up to our experience, being from Detroit. At 20, it’s very early, so we would go take breaks to experience life and bring it back to film.
You mentioned to Deadline’s Mike Fleming that you were going to do a remake of A Bittersweet Life. Why that particular film?
AH: It’s a gangster film and it has an interesting crime element there with some interesting characters. That’s what I do.
How close are you to production?
AH: We should be prepping in June. It’s going to be happening quickly.
What’s a good reason to see Broken City?
AH: It’s going to have you on the edge of your seat in a psychological way and the ladies will love Mark Wahlberg.
