Cop Land (1997)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Great Film overall

Boring

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

When I first watched this movie Sylvester Stallone"s actin career has been criticized to the point where many well known critics never gave any hopes that he could ever paly a serious role in a movie because of previous appearances in a couple of movies prior to the Rocky series, where the plots were really written for a academy award movies for all the categories the awards are given to one movie alone, if thee was aone for money making machine then well that's different.This movie was a complete turn around for his filming career, it was a serious role for Stallone and he played it well the plot cover corrupt cops, the life of a small sheriff and that of a Freddie and Liz platonic relationship along with an stellar cast including De Niro and other great actors the reviews werren't the greatest as the expectations were perhaps too high becaouse of the popular actors and the doubts that Stallone was able to act, So guess what I'm watching on this coll rainy Sunday morning in Boston MA. where spring hasn't sprung yet? yes you got it

This heavyweight thriller seemingly slipped under the radar, but offers enough top casting, excellent scripting and twists and turns to rival Oscar-acclaimed films such as LA CONFIDENTIAL. It's a film with a small, central cast of characters and a number of plot threads which eventually converge into a big conspiracy. The film aims for a low-key, realistic approach throughout, and the characters emerge as the most important elements; these are real, recognisable people, and the corruption running throughout the movie seems all too believable.Stallone gives what I believe to be his personal best performance as the somewhat slow, dim-witted, mild-mannered sheriff who solves the riddle, and he is ably supported by star turns from Keitel, De Niro (in an extended cameo) and Liotta. A bunch of other notable actors fill out solid, more minor roles, like Michael Rapaport, Robert Patrick and Peter Berg. Everybody is great here, right across the board from Keitel to Sciorra.I loved this movie due to the suspense and the intrigue, and mostly the likability of Stallone's leading character, who really is an unconventional chap, deaf in one ear, with no muscle, just a load of flab. Stallone is really touching in this part and definitely should have received an Oscar, but hey, just watch the film and enjoy watching, knowing that he gives his all. The film culminates in an amazing shoot-out which puts an atypical soundtrack effect to brilliant use, although short, I preferred this to more grandiose shoot-outs in the like of OPEN RANGE. The film as a whole can't be faulted – crime fans will love this one to bits.

Continuing my plan to watch every Sly Stallone movie in order, I come to 1997's Copland.Plot In A Paragraph: Freddy Heflin (Stallone) is the sheriff of Garrison, New Jersey, a small town that many NYPD officers call home. He idolises them, especially Ray Donlan (Harvey Kietel) but when an officer (Michael Rappaport) is responsible for an incident involving the death of two civilians, he starts to realise his heroes may not be the good guys he thinks they are. Playing it subtle, playing an overweight Sheriff, deaf in one in ear, sad, lonely and practically beaten down by life. Copland features Sly's best performance since First Blood, and a serious argument could be made for it being his best since 'Rocky'. Sly does some great acting with his eyes, something normally reserved for his portrayals of Rocky Balboa. (Watch the scenes where De Niro calls him a "deaf f**k" and as he sits looking at the bridge just after his car accident) He is wonderful here and deserved an Academy Award nomination at least. I certainly rate his performance over the actual winner Jack Nicholson in 'As Good As It Gets'.Of the rest of the cast. Ray Liotta is brilliant as Heflin's best friend Figgsy, and if his character had been better written and more fleshed out, he'd have walked away with the full movie. Harvey Kietel is as great as he always is. Robert Patrick turns in a fine smarmy performance as does Michael Rappaport (an actor I'm a fan of) John Spencer is as wonderful as always, whilst Robert De Niro isn't given as much to do as one might hope, and Cathy Moriarty is under used.There is a lot of subplots, most of which are not explored. Figgs's drug problem, the bad blood between Figgs and Jack (Patrick), Heflin potentially having a drink problem, the relationship between Figgs and Ray, the relationship between Heflin and Rose, racism, affairs and the dumping of garbage bags. Characters pop up and then disappear We are teased with a scene between De Niro and Keitel early on, as Keitel says he will come in and see De Niro's Internal Affairs agent, but it never comes off and we miss it. Stallone has described this as "the beginning of the end, for about eight years" saying after announcing 'Daylight' would be his last action movie, and then going method (gaining the weight) and playing dramatic in this (despite solid reviews) he said he struggled to get roles or his own movies off the ground for the next 8 years. There are two versions available of this movie, the theatrical release and a directors cut released on DVD. I believe that between the two versions is a 10/10 movie, as it is, it's a 9/10.

Cop Land (1997): Dir: James Mangold / Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Michael Rapaport: Community populated with law enforcement with a fine line drawn between those that obey the law and those that exploit it. It stars Sylvester Stallone as a Sheriff who hates his job but is determined to become a cop himself. A young cop disappears after he supposedly jumps off a bridge after two hoodlums are killed in a car chase. Robert De Niro enters as a Lieutenant who allows Stallone to prove himself. Director James Mangold goes for realism over action and creates a tension filled drama about corrupt law. Photography is dim and uninviting but casting is spot on. Stallone is great as a Sheriff longing for a higher position and pays a price for justice when his hearing defect is tested. De Niro is in his element in what appears as standard material. He tests Stallone to the limits despite the formula role. Harvey Keitel is effective as a crooked veteran cop who hides a missing cop but is really out to eliminate him. Ray Liotta is well cast as Stallone's partner who is on the wrong side of the law but will ultimately will come full circle when Stallone needs aid. Michael Rapaport plays the young cop struggling to lay low. Compelling film about the desperation to bring justice to a community that knows no such thing. Score: 9 / 10