DeNiro played the outlaw repairman who could actually fix things. Hoskins played one of the two official repairmen from Central Services, who could only intimidate the public and makes things worse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B61_5sRoBI
You are right - I forgot about the official repairmen that made the huge mess in the first place. Thanks for getting me straight on this. I should watch the movie again, but it might depress me more than I already am with the way things are going.
Bob Hoskins, RIP ;)