Cop Land (1997)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jens S

  
  A fantastic cast gathered for James Mangold's cop thriller about a New Jersey town where police is acting as if above the law. While the local sheriff is used to not asking too many questions and getting underestimated by the New York cops a dramatic turn of events may finally… More
  A fantastic cast gathered for James Mangold's cop thriller about a New Jersey town where police is acting as if above the law. While the local sheriff is used to not asking too many questions and getting underestimated by the New York cops a dramatic turn of events may finally force him to step up and not look away anymore. This is definitely Stallone's strongest performance of his career. His Freddy Heflin is a kind-hearted man, brave but also without any self-confidence. As things get more and more dire, he knows what's right, even if that means he is fighting a war on his own. The rest of the cast is just as excellent, the direction flawless and even though the movie has almost no action, the tension rises with every minute. An exciting, realistic and ultimately just thriller that shows it's never too late to do the right thing.

• Justin Y

  
  <i>Cop Land</i> is the result of James Mangold placing Sylvester Stallone as a lead in a crime drama. That may not sound fun, but it turns out for the best.<p>Clocking in at around 105 minutes, the film's plot trudges along at a snail's pace. While this… More
  <i>Cop Land</i> is the result of James Mangold placing Sylvester Stallone as a lead in a crime drama. That may not sound fun, but it turns out for the best.<p>Clocking in at around 105 minutes, the film's plot trudges along at a snail's pace. While this should point to inactivity and boredom, it is the combination of story and characters that actually keep this picture afloat. </p><p>Cops, the mob, and Sylvester Stallone. Believe it or not, but this film has very little in the way of action, and what little there is isn't exploding off the screen in anyway. Not to worry because the concept of corrupt cops running a town turns into a successful screenplay.</p><p>With the story containing a variety of characters, the cast is made up of recognizable faces to fill those shoes. Sylvester Stallone goes out of shape for his role, while Ray Liotta swears it up all over the place. Robert De Niro contributes with his piece as well.</p><p>The success of <i>Cop Land</i> lies with its cast members and its calm and subtle storytelling; a good viewing for a crime drama.</p>

• Al S

  
  A pure exhilerating knockout. A utterly powerful and white knuckeld thriller. A gritty, tense, scorching, explosive, remarkable and electrifying movie. The all-star cast is outstanding, every one of them deliver such force and dedication to their roles. It's safe to say the film… More
  A pure exhilerating knockout. A utterly powerful and white knuckeld thriller. A gritty, tense, scorching, explosive, remarkable and electrifying movie. The all-star cast is outstanding, every one of them deliver such force and dedication to their roles. It's safe to say the film is as good as it's cast. Sylvester Stallone is riveting, he turns in one of his best performances since Rocky. Stallone does something new and extreamly compelling here, it should be seen. Harvey Kietel is teriffic. Ray Liotta is explosive. A film that cant be beat. Unforgettable and incrediable. A thrilling and relentlessly exciting film lots of action, suspense and drama. An edge of your seat film from begining to end.

• Manu G

  
  Pretty good bad cops good cops movie! I thought the story was sufficient enough to carry this movie till the end. As we can see noone is above the law specially cops, you pay for what you do!!! Sometime in the 1970's, police officers from New York wanted a safe haven to live,… More
  Pretty good bad cops good cops movie! I thought the story was sufficient enough to carry this movie till the end. As we can see noone is above the law specially cops, you pay for what you do!!! Sometime in the 1970's, police officers from New York wanted a safe haven to live, away from the dangers of the streets of New York, this is when they established a "Cop Land" in the small New Jersey town of Garrison. Freddy Heflin who was always admired by the New York cops wanted to become one, but because he was deaf in one ear this prevents him from achieving his goal, but has become sheriff of Garrison. Recently there have been a dark omen surrounding the New York cops, and Freddy is now investigating on this case, then Internal Affairs officer Mo Tilden is also on the case and asks Freddy for help, but Freddy could not. Now Freddy suspects that a New York cop named Ray Donlan might be one of the many cops who is corrupted by the mob and other criminals. Now, Freddy must find a cop who is nicknamed "Superboy" who can testify against Donlan and protect him, before Donlan finds super boy and kills him.

• Conner R

  
  For me, Cop Land has always been an under-appreciated classic. In many ways it pulls together a cast and plot that rivals Scorsese, but also knows how to be a great action movie inside the Crime genre. Mentioning every cast member and singing their praises individually would be… More
  For me, Cop Land has always been an under-appreciated classic. In many ways it pulls together a cast and plot that rivals Scorsese, but also knows how to be a great action movie inside the Crime genre. Mentioning every cast member and singing their praises individually would be pointless, they're all amazing in this. Everyone was on top form and it really shows. The characters make sense and the corruption of the NYPD is done in a believable way, not like some outlandish gimmick. If you're looking for a powerhouse movie, there is nothing as fun as this.

• Curtis L

  
  I'd like to see a movie where Robert Patrick ISN'T a bad guy. I like that Stallone was a slobby bum for most of the movie. And that Ray Liotta screamed a lot. All the good stuff you need for a crooked cop movie.

• Lady D

  
  Good to see Stallone doing a more believable role. Wasn?t this the film, where they had to cut a scene, because it showed Stallone?s belly and they thought audiences would be too appalled by it? Due to his putting on weight for the role. Quite a huge star cast, good cops, bad… More
  Good to see Stallone doing a more believable role. Wasn?t this the film, where they had to cut a scene, because it showed Stallone?s belly and they thought audiences would be too appalled by it? Due to his putting on weight for the role. Quite a huge star cast, good cops, bad cops, corruption, internal affairs, The Mob ? probably not as exciting as this cast should be able to bring to the table, but none the less an interesting tale and certainly worthy of watching.

• Anthony L

  
  Drags a bit and considering the cast, you would expect more! Stallone & Liotta are good though!

• Dean M

  
  James Mangold's moody direction is better than his plot, but this remains a noteworthy stretch for an actor trying to leave <i>Rocky</i> and <i>Rambo</i> behind.

• MisterYoda ?

  
  boring

• Chris G

  
  Who would have thought that a film that has the likes of Ray Liotta, Harvey Keitel, and Robert DeNiro would have a true break out performance from... Sylvester Stallone. I remember first hearing about this film and the cast and thinking why in the hell Stallone was in this. He was… More
  Who would have thought that a film that has the likes of Ray Liotta, Harvey Keitel, and Robert DeNiro would have a true break out performance from... Sylvester Stallone. I remember first hearing about this film and the cast and thinking why in the hell Stallone was in this. He was going to ruin this film. I have to honestly say that Stallone's performance as Freddy Heflin, the small town sheriff of Garrison is Sylvester Stallone's greatest performance of his career. And yes, I am counting Rocky. Cop Land is about a small town called Garrison, New Jersey that is right at the bottom of the George Washington bridge and faces New York City. It's a town built by cops from the city in an attempt to get out. The problem is that many of Garrison's cops are crooked and the recent shooting incident involving one of the officers drags internal affairs into the town and investigating what goes in in the precinct and the town of garrison itself. This leaves Sheriff Heflin (Stallone) right in the middle. With a cast like this the acting is going to be excellent. Keitel and Robert Patrick as rogue cops. Liotta as the coke head undercover cop. Frank Vincent commits a real stretch as a union president. Writer/director James Mangold creates a story that is a compelling piece that is really a woe-is-me story from the point of view of Heflin. The sheriff is a disabled (lose of hearing in one ear from saving the local beauty queen in a submerged car) NYPD wannabe that most of the community sees as a Barney Fife. This is why the film isn't typical Stallone. This character is overweight, and almost wishy-washy. This isn't Rambo or Cobra, but a guy in a rut that he knows he'll never be able to get out of and at times he's too afraid to do anything about it otherwise he'll upset the status quo. Cop Land is a cop movie like no other and is certainly under rated as hell. I never realized it buy it has come to my attention that this is almost like a modern day western, ala Shane or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, where a reluctant protector has to go above and beyond to save his town. A man's gotta do...

• Cassie H

  
  This is another great Sly film. Sly is great as a cop with a bad ear. Sly's just a awesome actor! Rocky proved that fact!!! and his other films as well.

• Jani H

  
  I consider this to be one of the most underrated films in the last decade or so. A very strong cast with several good performances, especially Sylvester Stallone. We are used to see him as a buffed up action hero but here he does a very strong and touching portrayal of a sheriff who… More
  I consider this to be one of the most underrated films in the last decade or so. A very strong cast with several good performances, especially Sylvester Stallone. We are used to see him as a buffed up action hero but here he does a very strong and touching portrayal of a sheriff who has to deal with crocked cops and live with the fact that his true love is married to one. There are so many talented actors in Cop Land that most of 'em just have few scenes, like Mr De Niro. The only minor problem is Michael Rapaport. Never liked him that much... The story is interesting, pretty typical cop story but the way Mr Mangold has directed it, makes it different from other similar movies. Here he shows us of what is to come (Girl, Interrupted, Walk the line...). I will always remember this one as Sly's most memorable and best effort as of today. Recommended!

• Tim S

  
  Spectacular western-style mob/cop movie. Stallone proves he's got the goods.

• Tim S

  
  This movie is not near as bad as some people say. I thought Stallone was great and it also features good performances from the Big 3: DeNiro, Kietel, and Liotta. There are a lot of things that fall apart script wise, but, all in all, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

• Derek D

  
  About the only problem with a film featuring an ensemble cast is finding one of the actors who stand out among the others. Cop Land doesn't have one because all the acting is great. This is a who's-who of incredible acting, with Stallone, De Niro, Keitel, Liotta, Michael… More
  About the only problem with a film featuring an ensemble cast is finding one of the actors who stand out among the others. Cop Land doesn't have one because all the acting is great. This is a who's-who of incredible acting, with Stallone, De Niro, Keitel, Liotta, Michael Rappaport, Robert Patrick, John Spencer and even Janeane Garofalo taking this movie beyond the straight-to-video territory it would've otherwise landed in if the cast hadn't been so jaw-dropping. Just an incredible ride.

• El Hombre I

  
  What's refreshing here, is Stallone's performance rivals Keitel, De Niro and Liotta's performance. I was really looking forward to Stallone's later chapter of films he might get into upon viewing this. I suppose he just couldn't let down being an action star… More
  What's refreshing here, is Stallone's performance rivals Keitel, De Niro and Liotta's performance. I was really looking forward to Stallone's later chapter of films he might get into upon viewing this. I suppose he just couldn't let down being an action star and the lame sequels just kept a'comin. Shame.

• Ken S

  
  Incredible cast, lead by a powerhouse performance by Stallone.

• Michael S

  
  Very underrated film with possibly Sylvester Stallone's best performance.

• danny d

  
  very strange to see sly in a role like this but this was an ok flick

Read all 20 featured audience ratings