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Cop Land

Actor(s): Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Peter Berg
Director(s): James Mangold
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: R
Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity
Movie Release: 1997
DVD Release: 05/20/1998
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
Audio Tracks: English, French
Subtitles: English
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Total Copies: 4
Genres: Crime, Crime Thriller, Police Drama
See Also: Cop Land [Director's Cut], Cop Land [Blu-ray]

DVD Synopsis

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

Actors

Sylvester Stallone - Freddy Heflin
Harvey Keitel - Ray Donlan
Ray Liotta - Gary Figgis
Robert De Niro - Moe Tilden
Peter Berg - Joey Randone

Editorial Review of DVD

Miramax's =Cop Land DVD is another example of an early, featureless, non-anamorphic release. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen and Dolby Sound, the digital video transfer varies, at times especially grainy during the darker scenes in the film. The audio, on the other hand, only really pays off during the film's shoot-out climax, which is highlighted by a unique sound technique involving Sylvester Stallone's character, Freddy. While Cop Land was a critical success, it failed to pull in much box office, so it is not a surprise that the original theatrical trailer is the only feature on the disc. A James Mangold commentary track would have been worthwhile, however, as the credits reveal that the film came out of the Sundance Institute Filmmaker's Lab. Mangold's insight on his experiences with the institute and with pulling together such an accomplished cast would have made for an interesting track. Cop Land quickly faded from the memory of most moviegoers, and Miramax's poor DVD release does nothing to help preserve it. ~ Oliver Thornton, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Jason C. (JJC) from NEWARK, NJ wrote on 1/6/2008...

This is a great film, and simply a solid and more different Sylvester Stallone performance.

"Cop Land" centers around a bunch of corrupt New York City cops, who all reside in a peaceful town called Garrison, NJ (a fictional town, don't go looking for it), right at the Jersey side of the George Washington Bridge. Policing the town is a sheriff department of three, led by the very docile Freddy Heflin (Stallone).

However, these cops aren't just corrupt, they're actually part of a mafia family. In charge of the family in the town of Garrison, is Ray (Harvey Kietel), who gave Freddy the job as sheriff, due to his very kind nature and controllable attitude, blind to the things Ray is doing. Freddy is also deaf in one ear, due to an accident during his teenage years in saving the love of his life, whom I might add married someone else (yes, a member of Ray's cop family). This handicap is what prevented Freddy from becoming a New York Cop, a personal dream of his. Truly befriending Freddy and guiding him is Mike Figgis (Ray Liotta), another "family" cop who at one time was Ray's right hand man, until something happened between them, and now Figgis wants out and wants nothing to do with any of them.

Ray's nephew, "Superboy" Babidge (Michael Rappaport), gets into a huge unfortunate dilemma, when he kills two black men on the GW Bridge in his way home from an intoxicating party. Ray decides to fake his nephew's death and hide him, so they can figure things out and keep Internal Affairs away. Only one problem, Freddy realizes 'Superboy' is alive. Also knowing 'Superboy' is alive just on instinct alone, is head of Internal Affairs Moe Tildon (Robert De Niro) who has been working on the "Garrison Case" for sometime.

Tildon decides to pay Freddy a visit, asking for his help to bring down Ray and his family of cops. Freddy doesn't want to believe that his friends are up to no good, and therefore doesn't bite. But Freddy starts to realize that something indeed stinks in his town. Meanwhile, Ray has plans of his own, killing his own nephew. Fearing that his nephew will spill his guts about the family, Ray attempts to have him killed. 'Superboy' escapes Ray, and is now hiding somewhere in the town. He pays a visit to Freddy in hopes of help, but gets scared off when he sees the likes of Figgis hangin' in Freddy's house...and goes into hiding.

Freddy then confronts Tildon and says his ready to play ball, but it's too late, for Tildon was forced to shut the case down, for lack of evidence. So now, Freddy is on his own. His mission is to find 'Superboy' and take him in...all of which under the tight watch of a family of mafia cops.

This here, is your modern day western. Gritty and real. The ending is gangbusters...there are also a bunch a little plot lines that I didn't get into, but I don't give everything away.

Also, "Cop Land" was re-released on DVD as a Director's Cut, with roughly 15 minutes put back in and re-edited, a much better cut of the film than what was theatrically released. Definitely give it a look!