Us
Captain Marvel
Widows
The Walking Dead
Log in with Facebook
OR
By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango.
Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password.
We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your account. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified.
Please reference “Error Code 2121” when contacting customer service.
Rampart sends viewers plummeting into a nihilistic hell of its protagonist's creation, yet Woody Harrelson's performance in the central role is too magnetic to dismiss.
All Critics (145) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (108) | Rotten (37) | DVD (1)
Where's it all go? Nowhere, really, just down a dirty, disappointing hole. Harrelson deserved better. Mar 9, 2012 | Rating: C | Full Review…
Where's it all go? Nowhere, really, just down a dirty, disappointing hole. Harrelson deserved better.
Tom Long
It's a remarkably compelling film. Mar 1, 2012 | Rating: 3.5/4
It's a remarkably compelling film.
Moira MacDonald
Brown is a sick man, but Harrelson makes him so interesting, so charismatic, so ... watchable, that you can't look away, even if his actions make you want to (and they will). Mar 1, 2012 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Brown is a sick man, but Harrelson makes him so interesting, so charismatic, so ... watchable, that you can't look away, even if his actions make you want to (and they will).
Bill Goodykoontz
"Rampart" doesn't tell a coherent story as much as swirl the drain with Dave, as his increasingly desperate efforts to save himself simply result in a cascade of self-inflicted wounds. Feb 23, 2012 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
"Rampart" doesn't tell a coherent story as much as swirl the drain with Dave, as his increasingly desperate efforts to save himself simply result in a cascade of self-inflicted wounds.
Ann Hornaday
This isn't your average out-of-control character, and Harrelson has to work against a narrowly defined screenplay that is short on specifics. Feb 23, 2012 | Rating: 3/4
This isn't your average out-of-control character, and Harrelson has to work against a narrowly defined screenplay that is short on specifics.
Peter Howell
Rampart is a gripping movie, and a great addition to the Ellroy canon. Feb 23, 2012 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Rampart is a gripping movie, and a great addition to the Ellroy canon.
Peter Bradshaw
Rampart is very good at showing us a man who cannot come to terms with controlling his fury for long, and Harrelson makes us believe he exists. Feb 7, 2019 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Rampart is very good at showing us a man who cannot come to terms with controlling his fury for long, and Harrelson makes us believe he exists.
Abbie Bernstein
"Rampart" is engrossing enough to forgive them, settling into a culture of corruption where the rough edges of the frame resemble the fraying image of the once noble profession Brown comes to represent. Jan 8, 2019 | Full Review…
"Rampart" is engrossing enough to forgive them, settling into a culture of corruption where the rough edges of the frame resemble the fraying image of the once noble profession Brown comes to represent.
Stephen Saito
A fine film with a towering leading performance from Harrelson, great cast and solid direction, but may perhaps be too low-key to linger long in the memory. Dec 12, 2018 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
A fine film with a towering leading performance from Harrelson, great cast and solid direction, but may perhaps be too low-key to linger long in the memory.
Lee Cassanell
An experience to be savored. Mr. Harrelson has become an astonishingly brave actor who carries the movie with ease. Aug 9, 2018 | Full Review…
An experience to be savored. Mr. Harrelson has become an astonishingly brave actor who carries the movie with ease.
Sarah Manvel
A terrible movie that only works on the rare occasions when Harrelson's searing performance is allowed to shine. May 12, 2015 | Full Review…
A terrible movie that only works on the rare occasions when Harrelson's searing performance is allowed to shine.
Sean Burns
A powerful portrait of a seriously damaged, both internally and externally, man. Aug 11, 2014 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
A powerful portrait of a seriously damaged, both internally and externally, man.
Jack Giroux
Captivating drama, Rampart is a surprisingly gripping film about a corrupt cop played by Woody Harrelson in a well rounded performance. The film's story is smart, tense and is entertaining due to a strong performance by its lead actor. What I enjoyed about the film was that it was a tense piece of drama, a film that managed to be a gripping, well paced picture that told a riveting story and is elevated by some strong performances. I didn't expect much going into this film, and I must admit, I kind of avoided it for awhile, but I'm glad I did. Directed by the same director who helped the terrific drama The Messenger, Rampart gives you an unflinching portrait of a cop that is corrupt and abuses his oath. Harrelson is perfect for the part, and he commands each scene that he's in. The story is well constructed and is perfectly paced in order to create a rousing sense of tension, which is ever present in the film. This is a fine drama thriller, one that ranks among the most memorable ones in the last few years, and like I said, it's a film that is entertaining and captivating in the way it handles its story. This is a film that is well worth your time if you want a well executed drama that boasts great performances, terrific storytelling and exceptional direction. Rampart is an incredible drama and it's a film that is thoroughly engaging and is a finely made picture that you won't forget anytime soon. The film's strength lies in a solid and unforgettable performance by Woody Harrelson and it has a finely written script that has never a dull moment.
Super Reviewer
'Rampart'. A fine lesson in self-destruction that meandered too often between some nice uncomfortable moments.
Another Bad Cop Movie played by no better actor then Woody Harrelso, don't think he had to act to hard to fit this role. Nothing outstanding here, really a dissapointment. 3 Stars 8-3-12
Dave Brown: I don't cheat on my taxes... you can't cheat on something you never committed to. "The Most Corrupt Cop You've Ever Seen On Screen." Rampart is a movie like many others. It's one of those dirty cop movies like Bad Lieutenant, that has been touched by many filmmakers for years and years from Werner Herzog to Don Siegel. Rampart doesn't do too much to distance itself from other films of its kind either. It seems perfectly content being just another character study of dirty, corrupt, violent, alcoholic, womanizing cop that has alienated his family with his misdeeds and bad publicity. With all that said, it really isn't a bad movie. It's just a familiar one that clings to Woody Harrelson and let's him make or break the movie. So it is a good thing that Harrelson was more than just excellent as Dave Brown, the most corrupt cop you've ever seen. Dave Brown is a cop for the Rampart precinct in Los Angeles. Before becoming a cop, he fought in Vietnam and we get the feeling throughout that his tour of duty there fucked him up. He has two daughters that come from two different women, that just happen to be sisters. He's a womanizer going to bars to pick up women with low self esteems that would allow a guy like Brown to penetrate them. He's also facing legal actions as he deals with questioning over a shooting that he was involved in. Overall this plot is pretty tired, but it is uplifted by a phenomenal actor who is at the top of his game. Oren Moverman takes a tiny step down after his near masterpiece, The Messenger. He uses both Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster(in a smaller role) again in Rampart. Harrelson brings it just like he did in The Messenger, but the overall film doesn't touch The Messenger. Moverman definitely has an eye for camera work and has a slick style that he likes to use. His films are engaging, but he could have used a little more substance out of this one. This is a worthwhile movie though, no matter how unoriginal it all is. Seeing Harrelson as Dave Brown is all I really needed. It just would have been nice if I was given anything more than that. It has a respectable cast and has fine direction. It isn't going to blow you away by any means, but it has its impressive elements. I wouldn't tell anyone to seek this movie out, but if you get the opportunity to watch it; give it a look.
View All Quotes
View All