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Cop is a 1988 noir film starring James Woods as a wild and disturbed detective on a case to catch a serial killer. It's a very 1980s film with a good score and progression. This film will require your attention, so it's not one to just throw on in the background.
This film is very gritty, and James Woods does a great job as an unhinged detective. This film received a 6.4/10 on IMDb and has generally mixed reviews. Fans of crime dramas will enjoy this one. If you liked LA Confidential, you'll enjoy this.
The film takes place in the 1980s in Los Angeles. A serial killer is operating in secret, and James Woods, who plays a detective who is disturbed and extremely driven, finds a link from a book of feminist poems. Woods' character is left by his wife, and immediately throws himself into a serial killer case linked back to the female protagonist's past. There's no lack of gristly scenes and innuendo in this film, and the bulk of the movie is the protagonist pursuing resources to close his case.
Woods' character is well connected in the department, and is a hard worker despite being a bit unorthodox in his methods. It's definitely a noir film with dark undertones and loss. All the characters are complex, and the villian is dispatched brutally at the end. Woods and the antagonist are almost matched in their madness, and the way the film unfolds isn't too fast or slow. Woods' character's fate is left to the viewer's imagination, and the end has closure for the serial killer but is left open for Woods.
The film is rated-R for violence, sex and language. The subject matter of the film is extremely gritty, and an air of hopelessness permiates the film. The characters including the female lead are damaged and realistic in how they approach their situations. I recommend this film to those who enjoy gritty crime dramas. James Woods does a great job of portraying a cop who is driven to produce and not afraid to step out of bounds.
