6.9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Police detective Lloyd Hopkins (Woods) doesn't like to be told what to do, or what not to do. Stripped of his badge and gun, he pursues a killer no one thinks exists. By uncovering a secret hidden in a high-school yearbook, he will piece together seemingly unrelated clues to expose crimes dating back two decades.
Starring: James Woods, Lesley Ann Warren, Charles Durning, Charles Haid, Raymond J. BarryCrime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
BDInfo
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
1984
1974
2015
1989
1974
2014
4K Restoration
1973
Warner Archive Collection
2012-2013
2004
1989-2003
1990
Reissue
1983
1957
1964
2023
2020
Special Edition
1992
2014
1984-1996
Limited Edition to 3000
1959