Cop Land

There is a 1997 movie directed by James Mangold, called " Cop Land". The title sounds ordinary enough, but if the title does not get your attention, the stellar cast should : Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta. The movie tells the story of a corrupt town in New Jersey, where all the cops are in the pocket of the New York Mafia, under the reluctant tolerance of a frustrated and out maneuvered Sheriff Freddy Heflin, played by Sylvester Stallone. A suspicious killing by a young cop of two black teenagers leads to a cleverly planned exit plan for the cop accused and a swift resultant investigation by Internal Affairs Lieutenant Moe Tilden, played by Robert De Niro. Sylvester Stallone is nothing short of brilliant as the powerless Sheriff weighed down by his frustration he never got to be a true cop because of permanent hearing loss in one ear when he saved a young woman's life. He is in love with this woman, who is now married to a cop in town, who mistreats her, only adding to the emotional paralysis of Sheriff Freddy. He is sluggish, physically and emotionally and morally, allowing the deadly corruption of the town to continue unhindered. But, slowly, in tune with his character, Freddy becomes tired of playing the dunce, and encouraged by Ray Liotta's character, who expertly and very convincingly plays a crooked junkie, who is also tired of the outrageous abuses of the police department, Freddy shakes the shackles of his inaction and brings justice to the town and final involvement by IA under the determined drive of Lt. Moe Tilden. It is a great movie, and a very interesting role for Sylvester Stallone, who usually has all the energy, physical strength and weapons on his side. As Sheriff Freddy Heflin, he has to overcome enormous odds, by being physically challenged due to the hearing loss and being out of shape, and feeling inadequate also intellectually and morally. I am glad Sylvester Stallone got the Best Actor Award at the Stockholm International Film Festival for his unique portrayal of Sheriff Freddy Heflin. It is a tour de force that is very convincing, and he holds his own against the forever irascible Lt. Moe Tilden of IA played superbly by Robert De Niro. Harvey Keitel is equally brilliant as the hopelessly ruthless Lt. Ray Donlan, who is willing to kill members of his own family in order to keep the benefits of his corrupt practices going. The movie keeps your attention from the first second to the dramatic tense conclusion. A gem. Check it out.