Watch Cop Land

Cop Land is a 1997 crime-drama directed by James Mangold that stars an ensemble cast led by Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Peter Berg, and Janeane Garofalo. The movie is set in a small town named Garrison, located across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The town is mostly inhabited by New York City police officers who use it as a peaceful and idyllic retreat from the urban chaos. Stallone plays the role of Freddy Heflin, the sheriff of Garrison, who is deaf in one ear and was denied the opportunity to serve in the NYPD due to his medical condition. Heflin admires the NYPD officers and their heroic deeds, and he often feels inferior and isolated among them.

The story takes a turn when two NYPD cops, Murray 'Superboy' Babitch (Michael Rapaport) and Leo Crasky (De Niro), who are both connected to the corrupt cop Ray Donlan (Keitel), get involved in a heated confrontation with two African American teenagers across the river. The situation quickly escalates, and one of the teenagers is accidentally shot dead by Babitch. Donlan and his crew hope to cover up the incident and ask Babitch to lay low in Garrison until they can figure things out.

As Babitch tries to adjust to life in Garrison, he becomes increasingly paranoid and unstable, leading to a tragic turn of events. Meanwhile, Heflin begins to investigate the suspicious activities of Donlan and his associates, which puts him at odds with the NYPD officers and places his life in danger.

The film explores themes of loyalty, corruption, betrayal, and the moral dilemma of doing the right thing in the face of peer pressure. The performances of the cast are top-notch, and each actor delivers a compelling portrayal of their character. Stallone's performance as the conflicted and underestimated sheriff is particularly noteworthy, as he sheds his action-hero persona and delivers a nuanced and emotional performance.

The setting of the small town adds to the film's sense of isolation and claustrophobia, as the characters are surrounded by corruption and wrongdoing but feel helpless to do anything about it. The slow-burning pace of the movie allows for the tension to build gradually, and the explosive finale packs a powerful punch that leaves a lasting impact.

Overall, Cop Land is a gritty and thought-provoking crime drama that stands out for its strong performances and engaging storyline. It is a must-watch for fans of the genre, and it offers a unique and compelling perspective on the corrupt cop trope.

Cop Land is a 1997 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 64.