MovieChat Forums > City Hall (1996) Discussion > Why was Anselmo indicted?

Why was Anselmo indicted?

posted 16 years ago by briantrash
4 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone understand why Anselmo was indicted along with the judge? I don't recall that any wrongdoing had been attributed to him.

Throughout the movie, the only illegal/unethical activities he participated in were: 1) arranging to have the $40,000 planted on Eddie Santos' property and 2) asking the mayor to put pressure on the judge to give probation instead of a jail sentence. However, no one at City Hall but the mayor was aware of #2, and as far as I can tell, no one ever found out about #1.

So, at what point was Anselmo implicated in the judge scandal, and why?

[–] seakicreativeservice-934-96321 13 years ago

Does anyone understand why Anselmo was indicted along with the judge? I don't recall that any wrongdoing had been attributed to him.

There are a few other observations as well. The judge that let Zapati off and only give him probation, well he bought his judgeship for $50,000 dollars. It is never talked about, or fully explained, but I am assuming that the judges's mafia connection helped him buy his judgeseat. I am assuming that Anselmo was involved. This event made the judge vulnerable to pressure from Anselmo, but Anselmo did not have enough "juice" to make the judge over-look such a crime, so then the mayor got involved. Everyone also seems to forget that Anselmo shot the Parole officer at the phone booth that was about to hand over the correct documents that proved the judges corruption. I am guessing this, cause after Anselmo self murder, the probation documents were found in his car, along with his body. And dont forget if the dep. mayor had not ran, and left the scene, as the elevator was coming up to his floor,Anselmo would have shot him too.

Watching the movie now
Anselmo tried his best

[–] vpilutis 13 years ago

When not to understand the guy was dirty and he got caught?

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[–] jgroub 9 years ago

I assume that the $50,000 for the judgeship was the same thing that Kurt Russell had to pay to the party in Used Cars - it's to get the party's nomination in a one-party town. New York is a one-party town - Democratic. You get on the party's line for judge, you ARE a judge. And he got that money from the mob.

But the stupid part is, it makes ZERO sense for the judge, living in that fabulous townhouse, working at a white-shoe lawfirm, to be bought for 50 grand. 50 grand is his expense account for hookers and blow.

As for that stuff about the original probation report, and Anselmo being a hit man, it kind of makes sense, I think it's a helluva good guess, but I don't buy it. First of all, even if you're right, the movie was waaaaay less than clear about this. It's not that people forgot about this, it's that until I read your post, I had no idea that this was the case. But second, I don't see Anselmo as a hit man, stalking the probation officer, and then shooting him.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] jgroub 9 years ago

I agree. It's sloppy writing and a bad movie. Nothing was ever shown linking Anselmo to anything.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.