Cop Land (1997)
Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins
Synopsis: In the idyllic bedroom community of Garrison, New Jersey, a community of NYPD officers takes refuge away from the big city's troubles while still enjoying all the kickbacks, cover-ups, and mob-owned banking privileges from across the river. But the code of silence is tested when an... In the idyllic bedroom community of Garrison, New Jersey, a community of NYPD officers takes refuge away from the big city's troubles while still enjoying all the kickbacks, cover-ups, and mob-owned banking privileges from across the river. But the code of silence is tested when an off-duty, drunk rookie cop from their ranks wrongfully kills two black men and the local sheriff begins to investigate. COP LAND is an ambitious ensemble drama notable for eliciting a strong performance (and a 40-lb weight gain) from Sylvester Stallone. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Peter Berg
Screenwriter: James Mangold
Producer: Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad, Ezra Swerdlow
Composer: Howard Shore
Producer: Cathy Konrad
DVD Info
Release:
Jun 1, 2004
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Commentary - 1. James Mangold - Director, Cathy Konrad - Producer, Sylvester Stallone, Robert Patrick - Stars
Additional Release Material:
- Featurettes - 1. Deleted Scenes
- 2. "The Making of an Urban Western - Behind the Scenes"
Text/Photo Galleries:
- Shootout Storyboard Sequence
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
Mangold certainly knew what he was doing when he cast Keitel and De Niro.
Cop Land shares its leading man's slow-wittedness, but also his likability.
A good effort, but the star power on show throws the proceedings off kilter somewhat, hiking up an expectation that the film ultimately cannot live up to.
A low-key tale of corrupt cops that recalls the gritty police procedurals of the 70s.
It's pretty funny, actually, that Stallone gained 40 pounds to play this role, and what the movie needs more than anything else is to eat a salad and do some sit-ups.
It sizzles toward an explosive and satisfying climax in which everything -- Stallone included -- fully bursts into life.
Although too simplistic in its good-guys/bad-guys approach to morally and emotionally ambiguous material, Cop Land emerges as an absorbing and dramatic yarn about exposing the evil doings of some of New York's finest.
A solidly entertaining drama that stays true to the independent spirit of its filmmakers
At its heart, the movie has a good story to tell: the lumbering oaf who’s not nearly as stupid and not nearly as gutless as all the hot dogs from the big city think.
The movie's no roller-coaster ride, but there isn't a boring moment either.
At times, it's like three episodes of NYPD Blue jammed together and whittled down to feature length.
Mangold went to so much trouble to give Stallone a good role, but he forgot to write good parts for Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Annabella Sciorra and Cathy Moriarity.
The mystery suspense elements, however, grind from implausibility (the set-up), to cliché (the climax), with too much back story in between.
It's an interesting parable/western and, perhaps, a start for Stallone's new career.
In the early '70s, people made movies like Cop Land all the time; Stallone is a reason they don't make them so often anymore. Maybethis is his way of making it up to us.
Stallone more than holds his own against an all-star ensemble cast; indeed, he soundly anchors the picture.
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