Copshop

Copshop

This movie got off to a very good start and then about 45 minutes in the dialogue became stilted, the acting stiff, the plot repetitive, and the scenarios contrived.

To my mind Gerald Bultler sabotaged his own movie by being desperate to engrandize his role without sufficient substance and have the last word.

The female cop played by Alexis Louder did a fine job but you "can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear".

Overall this is 5 outta 10 at best, meaning watch it on TV if you are minded.

I was hoping for this to be a decent little thriller but I was a bit disappointed by the end. It has a good set up and scenario and the action when it hits is well portrayed, but it's overlong and just too drawn out for what it is. The snappy dialogue is too sub-Tarantino at times and there are long stretches that don't move the plot forward; in particular, the last half hour just seems to endlessly stretch out to no avail. It should have been better.

A comical drama that doesn't conform to expectations with an 80's presentation style, lively characters and isolated setting. It doesn't have much of a plot and it could have been a lot snappier, but the acting is good and it does hold your attention. The action scenes are few and far between and use slow motion a bit too much, but are good enough.

Grillo, Butler and Louder gave outstanding performances, and although the satirical writing was entertaining, this would've been much better if the story were taken more serious.

Then there's the even bigger issue of the huge hole left in the story, the one which didn't explain any of the twists and turns. It's almost as if the dog ate pages from the middle of the screenplay.

For the 107 minute runtime, there wasn't enough substance. Either lots of minutes needed to be trimmed down, or preferably, more backstory/substance written in. It felt like the story was more about Louder's character, and we're supposed to ignore why the things that are happening to her, are happening.

It's a shame no one picked up on these huge issues, because the directing was excellent, as was the cinematography, score and gore effects. Its a good one-time watch, and thus a 7/10 from me.

I was pleased with how this movie was written, I feel it had a great flow and the character building was strong and effective. Joe Carnahan did a great job keeping the watcher interested with both visual and verbal chemistry.

The movie flipped around kind of like Tarantino flips around.

Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo and Alexis Louder add did a great job portraying thier very complex characters. Toby Huss was an added bonus, he does "crazy" very well.

From the very start, the movie takes turns and creates complexity that you can't wait to figure out. When it finally all comes to play, you are in the middle of a roller coaster ride of action and violence comparable to Reservoir Dogs.

While the story didn't leave me guessing for too long, I feel the action, acting and plot were enough to warrant a strong watch.