Run This Town

The 2019 Canadian drama film, Run This Town, turns its directorial lens toward the political world, offering viewers a fictionalized narrative that intertwines real events of profound socio-political significance. Written and directed by Ricky Tollman, the film ingeniously paints a time-capsulated portrait of Toronto with a story interwoven through the tumultuous mayoral tenure of Rob Ford. Featuring top showbiz names including Ben Platt, Mena Massoud, and Damian Lewis, this film offers a compelling drama to envisage the complex intersections of politics, journalism, and power.

Run This Town follows three parallel narratives intertwining along the same course of events. The first narrative follows a rookie journalist named Bram (Ben Platt), who finds himself in dire straits after being relegated to write listicles. His mishaps at work are compounded by the difficulties he faces at home where he is overshadowed by his successful sister. Confronted by his personal dilemmas and professional struggles, Bram sees his life take a sudden turn when he accidentally stumbles upon a scandal that would define a political era.

The second perspective revolves around Kamal (Mena Massoud) who is working as a special assistant to the Mayor. He navigates the treacherous waters of politics, manipulations, and intrigues, trying to safeguard his job and protect his integrity in a hostile work atmosphere. He oscillates between his ambition to rise within the halls of power and his mission to manage the unpredictable and controversy-ridden Mayor Ford.

The final narrative provides a visceral view into the life of Rob Ford, the Mayor of Toronto, brilliantly portrayed by Damian Lewis. Lewis transforms himself physically and psychologically into the complex character of the Mayor who is known for his scandalous persona and controversial conduct. His role serves as a mirror to the world of politics—reflective of its undisguised realities, yet warped by its inherent complexities.

What's truly compelling about Run This Town is its ability to contemporize a real political scandal by creating a fictional narrative around it. It draws the audience into a pulsating world of political horse-trading and journalistic crusades while unfurling its characters and their dilemmas. The film generates a kinetic energy, where race, gender, and misogyny collide against the backdrop of a political scandal, making for a compelling watch. Tollman's directorial debut is earnest, engaging, and unflinchingly bold, landing heavy punches on the grandeur of politics and power.

As far as performances are concerned, Ben Platt excels in his role as an underdog journalist, peppering his performance with moments of vulnerability and resilience. Massoud effectively brings the intricacies and dilemmas of a political aide to life through his character. However, it is Lewis, completely unrecognizable in his makeover as Ford, who steals the show, delivering a performance full of fury and fervor.

The film also boasts impressive technical aspects. Rendering a keen visual style and impressive aesthetic choices, Tollman and his team capture Toronto in all its grimy authenticity. Furthermore, the script is complemented by a simmering background score that effectively accentuates the film's roller-coaster-like pace.

Although the film harbors a journalistic zeal and an aura of political realism, it's important to acknowledge that Run This Town is indeed a work of fiction. Despite using real names and feeding off actual events, the film is not intended as a biographical account of Rob Ford’s political life or a historically accurate representation of the events. Rather, it crafts an engaging narrative around these events, blurring the line between reality and fiction while focusing on the dilemmas and tribulations of its central characters in their respective journeys.

Run This Town offers audiences an intriguing and thoughtful mix of characters, story, and drama, forming an insightful political thriller. It's a film that radiates an intense pace that reflects the chaotic nature of the political world it portrays. While the film may take certain dramatic freedoms with real events, its narrative drive and the performances of its key cast members make it a compelling and thought-provoking watch.