Every January Hollywood releases streams of dreck, mostly third-rate action vehicles that have long been sitting on the shelf. "Broken City" appears to be an excuse to get Mark Wahlberg fans flocking to the cinema, to net the studios some quick cash during a time when the Oscar-nominated indie pics are the main attraction. Surprisingly, though, it is a compelling thriller, packed with endless twists that eventually work themselves

Allen Hughes, one half of the directing brothers who did the stylized Jack The Ripper feature “From Hell” and street-life drama “Menace 2 Society," flies solo for “Broken City.” And yet, if his name was not included in the credits you would've never known it. Lacking suspense, style, and the surprise effect "Broken City" falls on its face almost out of the gate. Mark Wahlberg is Billy Taggert, a N.Y. detective who's relieved of