Rating: R
Genre:
Crime
Release Date: 06/02/2009
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity
Distributor/Studio: Alliance Canada
The second film from writer/director
James Mangold, the corruption
drama Cop Land stars
Sylvester Stallone as
Freddy Heflin, the much-denigrated sheriff of tiny Garrison, NJ, a community which -- thanks to a technicality -- is populated almost entirely by members of the New York City Police Department. When young cop
Murray "Superboy" Babitch (
Michael Rapaport) becomes embroiled in a controversial shoot-out which leaves two black youths dead, he apparently commits suicide rather than face the wrath of an official investigation. In reality, however, he flees to safety back home in Garrison. In the wake of the controversial events, NYPD Internal Affairs lieutenant
Moe Tilden (
Robert De Niro) arrives in Garrison to uncover the truth, attempting to enlist
Freddy to help watch the watchmen, including
Superboy's uncle, veteran cop
Ray Donlan (
Harvey Keitel); coked-out
Gary Figgis (
Ray Liotta); and
Joey Randone (
Peter Berg), the husband of the woman (
Annabella Sciorra)
Freddy loved and lost. A rich, complex film about redemption,
Cop Land's portrayal of
Freddy's struggles to prove his worth mirrors
Stallone's own return to thoughtful, character-driven
drama after years of vacuous
action roles. Like
Freddy, he faces an uphill battle, fighting for respectability in the face of a superb cast including
Janeane Garofalo,
Cathy Moriarty, and
Paul Calderon.
~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
;)
