By the mid-90s, Sylvester Stallone was in dire need of a hit after box-office flops like Judge Dredd and Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot. However, he scored a key role in 1997 with the commercial hit Cop Land, which put him back on track. The 1997 crime thriller follows Stallone as Freddy Heflin, a local sheriff in a New Jersey town, who is caught up in a scandal involving corrupt NYPD officers.
Written and directed by James Mangold, who’s gone on to helm films like Logan and A Complete Unknown, the film boasts an all-star cast of supporting actors, including Ray Liotta, Harvey Keitel, and even Robert De Niro. Now, after nearly 30 years, it looks like we’re getting another look at Cop Land, with Variety reporting that the new head of Miramax is keen on rebooting several properties, chief among them the Stallone late-90s classic. Until then, it’s important to understand what makes Cop Land one of Sylvester Stallone’s most underrated movies.
You Should Watch (Or Rewatch) Sylvester Stallone’s Cop Land Now That A Reboot Is Coming
Freddy Heflin Is One Of Stallone’s Most Unique Characters
Unlike Stallone’s larger-than-life portrayals of heroes like John Rambo or Rocky Balboa, his role as the downtrodden Freddy Heflin reveals a soft-spoken vulnerability that’s easily one of the best dramatic performances from an action movie star. In the film, Freddy has previously turned a blind eye to the corruption of a ring of NYPD officers in the small, fictional town of Garrison, New Jersey. However, when the nephew of one of these cops kills two unarmed Black teenagers on the George Washington Bridge one night, it sets off a scandal that draws the attention of Internal Affairs investigator Moe Tilden (Robert De Niro).
Though he initially refuses to cooperate, Freddy eventually comes around to Tilden, realizing he can no longer protect the crooked cops he once idolized.
Tilden comes to Freddy for help with the case, offering him a chance to help out with the investigation and salvage his dream of joining the NYPD, which was thwarted after an incident that left Freddy deaf in one ear. Though he initially refuses to cooperate, Freddy eventually comes around to Tilden, realizing he can no longer protect the crooked cops he once idolized. Emboldened by newfound purpose, the small-town sheriff decides to join the investigation, eventually confronting the corrupt officers in a raw, bloody showdown.
Cop Land Often Doesn’t Get The Credit It Deserves
The Film Proved Stallone Wasn’t Just An ’80s Action Star
Despite a killer cast, rave reviews, and one of Sylvester Stallone’s all-time performances, Cop Land has failed to garner the attention from fans it so rightfully deserves. Though audiences enjoyed Stallone’s portrayal of the mild-mannered Freddy Heflin, they still largely viewed him through his cult action-hero persona, which persists to this day. However, the film has aged like fine wine, and the past decades have highlighted the sheer vigor behind Mangold’s script and Stallone’s performance.
So, with Miramax now gearing up for a Cop Land reboot TV series, we should all take the time to see for ourselves what made Mangold’s original 1997 Cop Land so special. Whether it’s your first time watching or you’re a die-hard fan of all things Sly, you’ll be sure to appreciate the gravitas Stallone brings to this ’90s underrated crime thriller.
Source: Variety
