Plot: What’s it about?
Freddy Heflin (Sylvester Stallone) is the sheriff of Garrison, New Jersey, a small town that is home to numerous police officers from New York. Heflin was never able to become a cop himself, thanks to his deafness and lack of physical fitness. Even so, he has always admired those who protect and serve, putting the profession on a pedestal. His kind nature and likable persona did allow him to live his dream in the end, as he was elected sheriff of Garrison. But in truth, he is a simple figurehead, as the other residents of Garrison enforce the law when needed, or break it if that is what they desire. So Heflin goes through the motions and tends to menial tasks, while the other law officers in town handle the real issues. He looks up to those men however, which causes him to look the other way when violations occur. When Internal Affairs officer Mo Tilden (Robert De Niro) rolls into town though, Heflin is forced to take a hard look at his heroes. Tilden has uncovered some links to a widespread corruption inside the NYPD, one that could shake the entire town of Garrison to its very foundations. As much as he respects these men, Heflin wants to do the right thing and he agrees to help Tilden’s investigations. Will Heflin prove himself to be worthy of his position, or will he be torn down by his own idols?
You want a dynamic cast? How about Sylvester Stallone, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Annabella Sciorra, Robert Patrick, and others, all in the same movie? Now what if that movie were made on a budget of just fifteen million, with most of the name actors working for scale, to keep the budget on track? Sounds like a cinematic miracle to me, the kind of movie that even the stars are willing to sacrifice for, to ensure the material is produced. Cop Land is loaded with talent and the stars really believe in the material, but in the end, the film wasn’t the kind of blockbuster the crew hoped it could become. But then with such a personal project, I would think the vision was more crucial than total profit. Cop Land is a tense, skillful motion picture that keeps you glued to the screen, thanks to excellent performances and direction. The cast is in top form here, with all the stars going the extra mile to make the material work. Mangold, who also wrote the screenplay, is able to make the most of his project, but some flaws do surface. But these flaws originate with studio interference, as opposed to Mangold’s own mistakes. This edition sports the director’s cut, which restores some of the changes, as well as a new transfer and some cool supplements. If you’re a fan of effective dramas, then don’t miss this new version of Cop Land.
Video: How does it look?
Cop Land is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This new transfer is most welcome, since the previous disc wasn’t anamorphic. The main improvement is in the details, which are much more intricate this time around. I saw some minor debris on the print, but just small nicks and such. I know we expect pristine prints on newer movies, but a few specks aren’t reason enough for rebellion. You’ll also see some jagged edges, but outside of those flaws, this is a dynamic visual effort. The colors are bold and rich, even in darker scenes, while flesh tones remain warm and natural. No issues with contrast either, thanks to some spot on black levels that never disappoint. So while this isn’t a flawless presentation, it is a great one and is sure to satisfy all audiences, not to mention put the previous edition to shame.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a dialogue driven movie and as such, the included 5.1 surround track isn’t worked too hard. I did notice that the music sounds very good in this mix, which is good since it compliments the film well. The bulk of the sound effects are subtle or background noises, so don’t expect much range or power from this one. I do like how nothing is forced through, which maintains a natural, fluid overall sound for this track. The main element is dialogue, which comes across in crisp fashion in this mix. I never had any trouble with clarity or volume, this is a wonderful and appropriate audio treatment. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as English subtitles, should you decide to enable those at some point.
Supplements: What are the extras?
An audio commentary kicks off the extras, as director James Mangold, producer Cathy Konrad, and stars Sylvester Stallone & Robert Patrick lend their memories. The session is one of the better tracks I’ve heard of late, with an open and candid discussion of the production, as well as its box office result. No one avoids the tough topics, but there is a sense of humor and warm tone to the track, a most worthwhile inclusion. This disc also includes some deleted scenes, a storyboard comparison, and a brief behind the scenes featurette.
