Cop Land
By Alistair Lawrence,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
1990s police drama has corruption, violence, language.
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Cop Land
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What's the Story?
COP LAND follows an unlikely small-town hero in Sheriff Freddy Heflin (Sylvester Stallone) as he attempts to expose a cover-up by fellow local police officers.
Is It Any Good?
Released in 1997, casting Stallone as an overweight downtrodden sheriff and surrounding him with a trio of gangster movie veterans cast as police officers, proved to be a tantalizing setup. But ultimately Cop Land was a commercial and critical misstep. While the movie has its flaws -- the plot can't seem to decide whether it wants to be a detective mystery or an organized crime drama -- what has aged well is Stallone's foray into making himself vulnerable as the meek and cowardly Freddy.
In later years, with his advancing age, the actor has turned to slightly more diverse roles, again with mixed results. But Cop Land is his most memorable attempt to be more than an action hero, as he tests his acting chops by being tormented by Harvey Keitel's scheming Ray, manipulated by Robert De Niro's calculating internal affairs officer, Moe, and struggling to get a handle on Ray Liotta's traumatized outlier, Figgsy. If you can forgive the film for its lack of diversity, even by '90s standards, it's worth revisiting it as a bold attempt to re-imagine its star and offer an uncompromising take on the police movie genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Cop Land. What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was Freddy different from the other law enforcement officers in the movie? Would you describe him as a positive role model? Why, or why not?
How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted in the film? Were they glamorized? Do you think our attitudes have changed when it comes to drinking and smoking?
There is a distinct lack of female characters or people of color in the movie. Did you find this problematic? How were those that were in the film treated? Why representation matters in kids' media.
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 15, 1997
- On DVD or streaming: July 2, 2002
- Cast: Sylvester Stallone , Harvey Keitel , Robert De Niro
- Director: James Mangold
- Studio: Miramax
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Courage
- Run time: 105 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence, strong language and brief nudity
- Last updated: December 1, 2022
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