Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Cops and Robbers Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 30, 2015

Released 42 years ago, “Cops and Robbers” is just as relevant today as was back then. A tale of class envy wrapped up in a heist film, the feature has a hunger to explore the disparity between the haves and have-nots, setting out to address the drudgery of middle-class stasis with a mildly humorous script that emphasizes the thrill of robbery as it absorbs the sting of need. Leads Joseph Bologna and Cliff Gorman are pitch-perfect in their roles as exasperated cops looking for easy money on the wrong side of the law, but the true star of “Cops and Robbers” is director Aram Avakian, who displays a gift for timing and streetwise intensity that conjures a perfect motivation for the lead characters. It’s funny work, but the movie is more persuasive as an examination of desperation tied to limited incomes, big dreams, and observation of an unfair world.

Working the streets of New York City, cops Joe (Joseph Bologna) and Tom (Cliff Gorman) have seen their fair share of suffering, violence, and dismissive behavior from the elite. Trying to make a paradise out of limited resources, the friends share an interest in the better life, fearing they’re being spread too thin as daily intensities begin to take their toll. On a whim, Joe decides to rob a liquor store in full uniform, getting away with the crime, which enlivens his dreary existence. Sharing the news with Tom, the pair considers a bigger job with a monster payday, allowing them to skip town and live the rest of the lives in the tropics. Coming up with a plan to steal ten million in bearer bonds from Wall Street, the partners take their mission to mobster Patsy (John P. Ryan), who accepts their unusual offer, agreeing to a percentage payout after the heist has been pulled off.

It’s the summer heat that’s immediately felt in “Cops and Robbers,” watching sweat drench Tom and Joe as they navigate city streets, chasing after suspects and struggling with exasperating traffic jams. In a film that’s primarily about frustration, the addition of a sweltering atmosphere is all the tension the effort really requires, setting a seasonal mood that takes hold of the viewer, creating an understanding of urgency as the cops decide they want out of their static lives. Street violence also plays an important part in the story, watching underpaid and overworked EMTs give up on saving a thrashing, screaming victim, while Joe witnesses life-threatening situations firsthand, dealing with the loss of his partner after he’s wounded by a trigger-happy thief. The citizens care more about the loss of goods than the lives of cops, and domestic life isn’t quite bliss, with above-ground pools and backyard gatherings leaving the lead characters wanting something more from their lives.

The screenplay is by Donald E. Westlake (adapting his novel), an author who knows a thing or two about elaborate robbery schemes, responsible for literary adventures concerning the antics of criminals John Dortmunder and Parker. While “Cops and Robbers” is terrific with motivations, working the men up with dreams of financial freedom, it’s equally satisfying with its heist scheme. Eschewing a complicated plan of timing and roughhousing, the script follows the unusually calm cops into a financial institution that’s heavily guarded and secured with cameras and keycards, requiring a proper distraction to help ease entry. A ticker tape parade for the Apollo 11 astronauts is the opportunity Tom and Joe take to help block interest in their whereabouts, pulling off their theft while the city explodes with delight and litter. Tension is significant, observing the pair tease failure as they threaten an executive and his secretary into submission, facing mistakes and unfortunate timing, struggling to pull off an impossible theft.

The midsection of “Cops and Robbers” is devoted to the heist, and it’s a terrific sequence, aided by sincere character examination from Westlake and charismatic performances from Bologna and Gorman, who pull off buddy chemistry while maintaining distinct personalities. The tale does shift awkwardly to the mafia’s perspective in the final act, losing suspense to establish a standoff between the crooks and cops, who want to cash out after their labor, but find additional scheming waiting for them in Central Park. Admittedly, it’s a bit of a comedown after the intensity of the robbery, stuck in a cycle of suspicion and hesitant negotiation, but “Cops and Robbers” isn’t lost for very long, returning to full speed with a satisfying conclusion that, once again, utilizes New York City locations and streetwise grit to its advantage.

Cops and Robbers Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.84:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a battered print, which offers speckling and extended vertical scratches, and some judder remains. Beyond damage points, the viewing experience is comfortable, with a fine hold on primaries that are boosted by cop uniforms and street signage. Skintones are natural. Grain is present, finely managed and agreeably filmic. Delineation is secure, with depths sustained and darkness communicative. Fine detail is working with softer period cinematography, but textures are welcome, great with sweaty close-ups and tours of New York City.

Cops and Robbers Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does reveal its age, carrying a thinness that slips into shrillness on occasion. Dialogue exchanges are not full, and while intelligibility remains, it's often holding on by its fingertips. The theme song is also missing dimension, with some mildly distorted areas as the music feels out highs and lows. Atmospherics are thick and loud, finding street activity especially pronounced, which actually sounds appropriate to capture the chaos of the city. Hiss is detected throughout.

Cops and Robbers Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (15:08, HD) with actor Joe Bologna explores his history as a writer and his transition to acting, which provided him with a career he seems surprised with even today. Talk of time with co-star Cliff Gorman and director Aram Avakian is equal parts sentimental and reverential, with emphasis on the geniality of the men as they all took on this little film. Bologna is in good spirits, with plenty of anecdotes and philosophy to share.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:18, HD) is included.

Cops and Robbers Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Avakian gives "Cops and Robbers" an urban attitude and an understated wit, sneaking in sight gags while showing patience with character exchanges, allowing a mood of camaraderie and casual planning to creep into view before the theft commences. The feature isn't pressurized, but mounting stress is felt, which does wonders to help sell the snowballing plan the cops mastermind. "Cops and Robbers" offers laughs, but it really is most memorable as an askew character study with a backdrop of financial disparity, tapping into dark thoughts of envy and dishonor while remaining remarkably light on its feet.