Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Cop Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 17, 2016

There was a time in the 1980s when Hollywood was intent on making James Woods a star. An actor respected by critics and peers, Woods never made the leap to a bankable lead, starring in a string of forgettable thrillers and dramas that tried to make the most out of his manic energy and screen authority. Arguably the least effective effort from the batch is 1988’s “Cop,” which labored to transform the jittery thespian into a gun-swinging police superhero who’s irresistible to the ladies and frequently stumbles over clues without trying. Adapted from a James Ellroy novel, “Cop” is never far away from a ridiculous moment, with writer/director James B. Harris trying to construct a suspenseful event with very little tension and a semi-baffling story, relying on Woods to simply do his lip-licking thing to boost the movie’s appeal. To be fair, the star is game to do anything the script asks of him, but it’s difficult to get past a basic miscasting when it comes to the trials of a bulldozing supercop on the trail of history’s most uninteresting serial killer.

Working the cesspool of Los Angeles, Detective Lloyd Hopkins (James Woods) has hardened over the years, sick and tired of watching women treat the world as a fantasyland, leaving them exposed to violent crime. Picking up clues through numerous murder investigations, Hopkins detects an unusual pattern with the crime scenes, soon launching his own investigation into the possible presence of a serial killer, using help from department pal Dutch (Charles Durning). Rubbing Captain Gaffney (Raymond J. Barry) the wrong way with his wild theories and limited evidence, Hopkins goes rogue, embarking on a series of confrontations and interviews with possible suspects, gathering an understanding for this butcher of women who’s fond of feminist poetry. Losing his family and his job in the process, Hopkins continues the fight, eventually coming into contact with Kathleen (Lesley Ann Warren), a troubled feminist bookstore owner who may be the key to cracking the case.

There are darkly comedic moments in “Cop,” but it’s difficult to find the feature’s personality. Hopkins is prickly character, with opening moments underlining his habitual cynicism and dismissal of hope due to his years on the force, only brightening in the presence of his 8-year-old daughter, sharing the gruesome details of his job with her during a bedtime story. He’s a workaholic and a bully, dedicated to a career he doesn’t particularly seem fond of, protecting people he doesn’t care about. And yet, this extreme callousness doesn’t come alive in Harris’s screenplay, which fails to do something with all the contradictions burning within Hopkins, confusingly insisting he’s a dedicated man of action, but also willing to break every rule around to make sure all the heroism is meaningless when it’s eventually passed over to the legal system. Hopkins doesn’t care about warrants, Miranda rights, or even gloves to preserve fingerprints (watching the detective rub his hands all over exposed evidence is actually quite amusing), but he’s out to stop a possible serial killer for striking again. It’s difficult to ascertain what his motive is for such unrepentant procedural recklessness, clouding the ultimate point of “Cop.”

“Cop” is sleazy, filled with casual sex, homophobia, and sadistic ways. It’s not particularly kind to women either, with small-brained female roles reserved for prostitutes, victims, and Kathleen, who’s depicted as a daffy victim of sexual assault inexplicably drawn to Hopkins as he pushes down on her for answers. In fact, every woman submits to his non-existent charms, with the detective openly hitting on murder witnesses and informants, giving him plenty to do between bouts of terrible police work. Again, if there was more concentration placed on this creepy behavior (the effort teases male fantasy immersion, but doesn’t have the guts to go that far), “Cop” would be a lot more interesting, drilling into complex behavior to deliver more substantial characterization. However, like everything in the picture, Harris only pays moderate attention to particularly unseemly habits, brushing it aside to make room for the far more banal serial killer hunt.

Woods isn’t exactly stretching with “Cop,” once again tasked to play a high-strung man on the edge of sanity, with bad judgment barely diverting him from his mission. Woods snarls and snaps, and when ladies are around, he switches into seductive mode, never pausing when it comes to easy women. It’s not inspired work, but it’s reasonably commanding, especially around co-stars who are clearly not interested in the material (Durning’s lights are switched off) or simply aren’t up to the challenge of interpretation (Warren goes all weepy, yet again, as the question mark of the movie). However, those used to Woods’s habitual velocity should find “Cop” appealing, offered his own starring vehicle and room to glare at other actors and burn through dialogue at top speed.

Cop Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation shows signs of age, with colors on the faded side, lacking freshness, only really sparking to life with street encounters and on select period fashions. Skintones are unremarkable, but remain comfortable. Detail is generally soft for this type of feature, with faint textures on facial close-ups and crime scenes, while distances are preserved to satisfaction. Delineation is underwhelming, showing some struggle with the few scenes utilizing limited lighting. Grain is chunky and, at times, noisy. Source is in decent shape, with light speckling detected.

Cop Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix carries along with satisfying emphasis, but it's a quieter track, requiring a boost of volume to bring it up to full power. Dialogue exchanges are crisp and detailed, supplying clean dramatics and comfortable extremes in temper. Scoring is supportive, adding some synth emphasis to fulfill suspense needs. Atmospherics with street activity, diner encounters, and police headquarters are acceptable, adding civilian bustle to the listening experience.

Cop Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director James B. Harris.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:06, HD) is included.

Cop Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The resolution of "Cop" isn't satisfying in the least, snapping on bloodied Schwarzenegger overalls while the rest of the picture is more in step with a psychological unraveling. Granted, the effort is teeming with idiot characters making obvious moves (Hopkins doesn't have to think all that hard to outwit his challengers), but the climax doesn't reward considered sleuthing. Instead, it goes for brawn, which fits Woods like a cheap suit. There's potential in the material to follow provocative ideas, including Hopkins and his general distaste for the concept of female fantasy ("innocence kills" is his motto), his ongoing war with suffocating bureaucracy, and there are elaborate scenarios detailing corrupt cops on the prowl, hinting toward a direction of personal responsibility in a sea of fraud Harris abandons early on. Instead of care, we get shotguns and Uzis and gymnastic stunts, leaving "Cop" predictable when it actually contains the raw materials to be consistently surprising.