Don't know why it took me so long to finally sit down and watch 'Cop'. I've always been a fan of James Woods. Wherever he's top billed or supporting - he delivers unique characters. Off centered, funny, admirable, disgusting. He can do drama. Action. Comedy. With a perchance for equal parts sleazy and intelligent.
That about sums up his character here, Sgt. Lloyd Hopkins of the LAPD. Based on a trilogy of books is a cop who's great at his job but is his own worst enemy. Crossing the line. The end justifying the means. With a personality type that might be equal parts because of his job, what he's seen, dealt with and his own twisted outdated misogynistic attitude.
The thrust of the story is of an undiscovered serial killer centering around a past high school rape and feminist leanings. There's some mild police diversions and clashes with a police superior. Hopkins crumbling home life is shown as well, but the laser focus beneath all these elements is his character. The identify of the killer is secondary.
He's the glue. Not always easy to like, but that's the charm. The hook of the material. It's increasingly unabashed in showing his flings with multiple women (he's married). His sleep deprivation. The questionable way he talks to his young daughter about the job and his willingness to violence as an abrupt solution.
Woods is fantastic and the reason to watch. Lesley Ann Warren plays naive quite well while Charles Durning is grounded as a fellow cop and Hopkin's friend. Lastly Charles Haid is effective as a greasy corrupt deputy sheriff. Easily dismissable as exploitive in the 80's - the violence and politically incorrect characters feel right at home today. I should have seen this sooner.
That about sums up his character here, Sgt. Lloyd Hopkins of the LAPD. Based on a trilogy of books is a cop who's great at his job but is his own worst enemy. Crossing the line. The end justifying the means. With a personality type that might be equal parts because of his job, what he's seen, dealt with and his own twisted outdated misogynistic attitude.
The thrust of the story is of an undiscovered serial killer centering around a past high school rape and feminist leanings. There's some mild police diversions and clashes with a police superior. Hopkins crumbling home life is shown as well, but the laser focus beneath all these elements is his character. The identify of the killer is secondary.
He's the glue. Not always easy to like, but that's the charm. The hook of the material. It's increasingly unabashed in showing his flings with multiple women (he's married). His sleep deprivation. The questionable way he talks to his young daughter about the job and his willingness to violence as an abrupt solution.
Woods is fantastic and the reason to watch. Lesley Ann Warren plays naive quite well while Charles Durning is grounded as a fellow cop and Hopkin's friend. Lastly Charles Haid is effective as a greasy corrupt deputy sheriff. Easily dismissable as exploitive in the 80's - the violence and politically incorrect characters feel right at home today. I should have seen this sooner.