REVIEW: COP LAND

"After I made Cop Land (1997) in which I played a timid, overweight cop, all of Hollywood turned their back. I'm surprised they even gave me this table. I'm like driftwood in here."
-Sylvester Stallone


Perhaps one of Sylvester Stallone's most overlooked movies, Cop Land marks Stallone's departure from action films and the Rocky franchise, to a character that is vulnerable and not the dominant alpha male that we are used to seeing in films.  I saw Cop Land in theaters when I was in middle school, and it was the first time that I was truly engrossed in a film that did not involve gratuitous violence and sex.  While the film does have its violent moments, it is truly a drama in the sense that the interactions between characters is what drives the movie, and the acting is simply superb by all parties involved. 


Boasting an all star cast, Cop Land stars Stallone, but also has amazing performances by Robert DeNiro, Harvey Keitel, Michael Rappaport, Jason Patrick, and Ray Liotta.  These actors truly demonstrate their tremendous skills in Cop Land, and keep the viewer fascinated with the complex emotion and drama that ensues.  IT should also be noted that all of the actors in the movie, including Box Office Superstar Sylvester Stallone, worked on this movie for scale, which means they accepted the minimum pay as dictated by the Screen Actors Guild in order to make this movie.  To me, that shows that all of these actors love what they do, or else they would have held out for more money, or taken a more commercially profitable film project.  This dedication to their craft shows in the stellar performances by all. 

The movie centers on small town Sheriff Freddy Heflin, played by Stallone, in a small New Jersey community that is home to numerous NYPD officers, who do not carry themselves to the high moral standing one would expect of New York Police Officers.  I wont go into too much detail with the plot, as it is a bit complex, but nonetheless fascinating to watch.  If you get a chance, I highly recommend this movie. 


Sylvester Stallone gained a 40 pounds to play the role of Sheriff Freddy Heflin in this film, and while his portrayal of the Sheriff was riveting, the role seemed to hurt his acting career to a certain extent. After this movie, he put out a few lower budget features that did not get the same promotion as his earlier works did, perhaps because of his decision to branch out and try a serious, dramatic role.  This is quite unfortunate, as he shined in Copland, and as evidenced by his roles in Rocky Balboa, Rambo, and The Expendables, he lost nothing in regards to his ability to play the role of action hero.


Sylvester Stallone is truly an underrated actor, and I feel that his tremendous box office success makes some people forget that he is quite a talented actor, and his performances are not merely action movie caliber, as evidenced by his 1976 Oscar nomination.  He is also the brains behind most of his blockbuster movies, as he served as writer, director, and star for most of them.  If you are still not convinced of Sylvester Stallone's acting prowess, go watch Cop Land and see for yourself.  Then watch Rocky1-6 and First Blood. The proof is in the pudding.