Copland [Cop Land] **** (1997, Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro) – Classic Movie Review 910

Writer-director James Mangold’s 1997 thinking-person’s thriller finds Sylvester Stallone giving his best display of acting for years as Sheriff Freddy Heflin, a tubby, hard-of-hearing New Jersey cop who uncovers a deadly web of police corruption across the river from Manhattan.

Copland (aka Cop Land) is distinguished, intelligent stuff, with a great atmosphere and remarkable star support turns from Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta.

Peter Berg, Janeane Garafolo, Robert Patrick, Michael Rapaport, Annabella Sciorra, Noah Emerich, Cathy Moriarty, John Spencer, Frank Vincent, Edie Falco, Deborah Harry, Robert John Burke, John Ventimigilia and Method Man are also in the extraordinary cast.

The director and actors were poorly rewarded for all their good work. Possibly disappointed that it wasn’t an action movie, the public mostly stayed away.

Stallone abandoned the gym and headed to his local pancake house and put on two stones for the part.

Director Mangold is known for Heavy (1995), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Kate & Leopold (2001), Identity (2003), Walk the Line (2005), 3:10 to Yuma (2007), Knight and Day (2010), The Wolverine (2013).

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© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 910

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