Cop Land (1997) / Drama-Thriller

MPAA Rated: R for violence, strong language and brief nudity
Running Time: 104 min.

Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Peter Berg, Janeane Garofalo, Robert Patrick Michael Rapaport, Annabella Scoirra, Noah Emmerich, Cathy Moriarty
Small role: Edie Falco, Deborah Harry, Method Man, Bruce Altman, Geraldo Rivera
Director: James Mangold
Screenplay: James Mangold
Review published September 11, 1997

Crime and corruption invade the small New Jersey town of Garrison in the form of NYPD officers who have moved there to find a safe haven from the anxieties in the city. Stallone (Judge Dredd, Demolition Man) plays Sheriff Freddy Heflin, a wanna-be NYPD and acting sheriff of Garrison who must make a decision of keeping a lid on the corruption and murder in his town or to do the right thing and take action.

Stallone turns in one of his most appealing performances in years, and along with the rest of the cast, this is an acting tour-de-force. The story is compelling and all of the characters and subplots are held together nicely. It's not a great film, but interesting and worth viewing.

Qwipster's rating: 

©1997 Vince Leo