[My understanding is that this film is still unfinished, so keep that in mind. -Moderator]
COPLAND
A film review by Brian Finkelstein
Copyright 1997 Brian Finkelstein
On a scale of 0 to 5, this movie gets a very low 1 bordering on a 0.
OK, here's the deal guys. I normally would not review a movie for the masses, but in this case I felt that I needed too because I saw the movie several months before any of the normal NET critics will so I must share my insights but I'll keep it short.
Copland is a movie starring DeNiro and Stallone along with several other big names. Basically it's about a bunch of city cops who spend their free time in Garrison New Jersey and are all thoroughly corrupt. They keep the town safe, but their bring their warped sense of fairness and justice with them across the symbolic bridge.
This flick has many, many problems. First is the acting of Sheriff Freddie, played by Stallone, who allows the big city cops to do whatever they want. He spends the entire movie with a decidedly retarded expression on his face. The character was supposed to be deaf in one ear, and it is possible to image Stallone reading the script and thinking to himself, "He's so stupid that he can't hear! I'll play this role as if he were retarded." Stallone stands with his jaw agar for at least 1 hour of this 1-1/2 hour movie.
Aside from Stallone's acting, the rest of the problems are entirely script related. There are seemingly dozens of sideplots relating to the Mafia and love interests that are never explained or resolved. They are brought up, explained quickly, thought about for a second, and then forgotten never to be brought up again. Also, the fact that there are dozens of characters that are constantly in motion and are never truly memorable was less then helpful. Several times during the movie I found myself turning to my friends and asking-- who's that? who's that?
All in all, this movie had little merit except for a slightly entertaining sequence in the beginning showing the parallels between city and suburban police life. I have intentionally given away very little of the plot as the movie has yet to be released so changes can easily be made, but this movie was too far gone... I urge each and every one of you reading this, don't see the movie-- it's not worth the seven dollars.
Do not see Copland.
This is the first review i've done, i'd love to hear how i'm doing...
Brian Finkelstein doorframe@imaginetech.com http://www.imaginetech.com/~doorframe/
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