Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping docu about becoming a police officer; violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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Where to Watch
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A Cop Movie
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In A COP MOVIE, two police officers tell their stories of being on the force for 17 years. From their training at the police academy to their patrolling of their assigned areas, these two partners share their experiences, tell their stories, and impart the highs, lows, and difficulties of being cops in Mexico City.
Is It Any Good?
This Mexican hybrid movie is half-documentary, half-dramatization, suggesting that it not only defies any simple genre categorization, but also any quick comparison to other films. Largely, because of this, A Cop Movie is entirely original, unpredictable, and fascinating. To be considered a documentary for the Academy, the two primary actors had to film their preparations for their roles on their own cellphones, selfie style. These candid takes and self interviews blend perfectly with the "fictive" recreations of their stories. Certainly, for the first half of the film, viewers won't know what is real and what is being recreated, and this sense of confusion actually makes the film more exciting and unpredictable. Once the final third of the film begins and the way the film was made is revealed, there's almost a sense of relief because now we at least know real from not real. But by then, the overall sense of injustice, corruption, and struggle of every day police officers is well felt.
Beyond how the movie was made, and as a documentary, this film is also an unflinching condemnation of the Mexico City police force and the ways that rampant commonplace corruption affects the public at large, individual citizens, police officers themselves, and the common good. Extortion is ubiquitous and common, sexism is everywhere, and favors for politicians and public figures protect them from police attention. Indeed, getting to know these two police officers and their stories is a scary proposition, as you never know what dangers they might next face (disrespect, violence) or what kind of mistake they might make (like trying to arrest someone under police "protection"). Further, the whole system doesn't set up young cops for success. Most cops are trained right out of high school, often get into it because they have nothing else going on, are only in academy training for 6 months, and are then immediately put on the street.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in documentaries. Given that this film is largely nonfiction, did the violence in A Cop Movie feel fake or contrived at any time? Why or why not?
What parts of the film felt not realistic or not genuine? What parts felt most real, genuine?
Now knowing what you know about what it takes to be a police officer, would you want to be one as an adult? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 5, 2021
- Cast : Monica del Carmen , Raul Briones , Maria Teresa Hernandez Canas , Jose de Jesus Rodriguez Hernandez
- Director : Alonso Ruizpalacios
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 107 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Violence and a bit of sex
- Last updated : November 16, 2021
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