Grays Almanac

Home/Episodes/Cop Land

‘Cop Land’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

June 2, 2022 · Cop Land (1997) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:29:27

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

Categories

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 29:18The bar scene with Leota versus Berg gambling talk and Leota versus Patrick with dart to the nose
Chris Ryan▶ 28:40Contributed commentary on the Superboy shooting scene and Stallone/De Niro confrontations but no clear single pick
Sean Fennessey▶ 28:05Discussed multiple scenes including Superboy's accident/shooting scene details and praised the bar scene with Leota

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill Simmons▶ 33:22The whole sequence starting with the peeper yelling about gambling through Big C at the bar - argues it's the template for The Sopranos
Chris Ryan▶ 32:18The 'go to lunch' scene with the mayor shutting down the case
Sean Fennessey▶ 33:38The 'you blew it' scene - personal pick due to shared experience with his brother

What's Aged the Best

Bill Simmons▶ 36:48The movie's relevance post-recent years in America regarding police issues, James Mangold's successful career trajectory, Peter Berg's performance, two Bruce Springsteen songs in a Jersey movie, and six actors who later went to The Sopranos
Chris Ryan▶ 35:33Edie Falco smoking (especially attractive on screen), good smoking details throughout the film, Joey Rando's chunky Filas fashion coming back, and the restrained use of needle drops
Sean Fennessey▶ 39:28The authentic depiction of cop bar culture (pinball, dartboard, group dynamics) and good Springsteen song choices that weren't the obvious picks

Slow Ride Award

Bill Simmons▶ 39:57Springsteen's Stolen Car
Chris Ryan▶ 40:00Springsteen's Stolen Car (agrees with the pick)

Big Kahuna Burger Award

Chris Ryan▶ 41:21De Niro's Turkey Sandwich (Moe's Sandwich)
Sean Fennessey▶ 41:53Kathy Moriarty cocktail given to Superboy as runner-up

Den of Thieves Benihana Award

Bill Simmons▶ 42:32Four Aces
Chris Ryan▶ 42:34Considered Scores, noting it was culturally significant and mentioned in rap songs
Sean Fennessey▶ 42:53Suggested Scores and the shootout on the George Washington Bridge as alternatives

Great Shot Gordo Award

Bill Simmons▶ 43:26Wide shot of Stallone with the whole river and bridge behind him at the start of the shootout - described as a nice poster shot
Chris Ryan▶ 43:11Ray standing against the above-ground pool with the light reflecting off the green and white aluminum siding
Sean Fennessey▶ 43:33Agreed that both picks represent signature filmmaker moments showing visual ambition beyond just telling another crime story

Picking Nits

Bill Simmons▶ 47:15Multiple complaints: the logic of showing Superboy to residents then killing him, better legal defense existed for the car accident, not enough sports on TV in background, drunk driving scenes aged poorly, young Stallone casting in flashback looked bad, Kathy Moriarty's aging between films
Chris Ryan▶ 48:07Ray's operation is a house of cards where any guy getting in trouble could flip on the whole setup, and the drunk driving scene where Leo lets blacked-out Freddie drive home
Sean Fennessey▶ 46:59The confusing logic of showing 30 residents that Superboy is alive then immediately killing him, and questioning why Ray would wait to kill him instead of doing it right away

What's Aged the Worst

Bill Simmons▶ 50:08Stallone's dismissive attitude toward the movie - his lack of pride in Cop Land

Is There a Better Title?

Bill Simmons▶ 52:04Searching for Superboy
Sean Fennessey▶ 52:11No - thinks Copland is an amazing title

Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Bill Simmons▶ 56:42The biggest mistake Stallone made was gaining 40 pounds for this movie because his face was never the same after losing the weight, leading to his later plastic surgery look
Chris Ryan▶ 53:39Joey Randone was right - analyzed the 1996 Bulls-Knicks playoff series and argued Joey nearly covered the spread, losing by only 13 points when he had 12
Sean Fennessey▶ 55:22This is a top 10 De Niro performance - argued that despite 10 obvious classics, he'd rather rewatch this De Niro performance than some of the acclaimed ones like Raging Bull

Best Quote

Bill Simmons▶ 57:24Being right is not a bulletproof vest, Freddie
Chris Ryan▶ 57:40No, we're coming from Forest Hills, sweetheart. I'm John McEnroe. That's Jimmy Connors.
Sean Fennessey▶ 57:48Against the five-time NBA champs? What kind of bet is that?

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:01Ray Liotta — Ray Liotta as Sheriff Freddie and Sly Stallone as Figsy would make the movie bad and not work
Chris Ryan▶ 1:00:24Gary Sinise — Discusses how Sinise would be different from Stallone - more of a 'stepped on littler guy' versus Stallone's 'gentle giant'
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:00:11Gary Sinise — Gary Sinise as Freddie would have been interesting due to his experience playing disabled characters and gravity as an actor

Overacting Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:41Harvey Keitel — Discusses Harvey Keitel's yelling scene but feels it's not great overacting, more like coasting performance
Chris Ryan▶ 1:02:14Ray Liotta — Suggests Ray Liotta's bridge scene ('Leo! He jumped! Oh my Jesus!') as overacting, asks about Figsy but concludes no
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:02:51Harvey Keitel — Defends Keitel yelling as always fun, references his Reservoir Dogs performance

Butch's Girlfriend Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:21Janeane Garofalo's casting and performance in the deputy role
Chris Ryan▶ 1:04:18Defends the casting choice somewhat, noting the town only has three cops and appreciates her character's ending
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:04:08Understands the character concept but acknowledges Garofalo as pure Gen X disaffection that doesn't fit the role

Teddy KGB Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:11Janeane Garofalo — Janeane Garofalo - 'just shouldn't have been in the movie'

Dion Waiters Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:07:47Method Man
Chris Ryan▶ 1:07:17John Spencer
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:06:40John Spencer — Discussed John Spencer but didn't give a final pick

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:12Noah Emmerich — Says no for Stallone, Leota, James Mangold. Considers Rappaport but settles on Beautiful Girls over this movie. Suggests Noah Emmerich's apex is Truman Show. Proposes Pre-Sopranos Jersey Cop Scumbags as apex mountain category.
Chris Ryan▶ 1:10:53Robert De Niro — Suggests this could be apex mountain for 'Just About to Sell Out De Niro' - the peak of post-Golden Age, pre-sellout De Niro
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:11:17Robert De Niro — Provides detailed filmography for De Niro 1995-1997. States Noah Emmerich's apex mountain is The Americans, not this movie. Identifies Analyze This as key moment when De Niro shifted to easier comedy roles.

Racehorse Name Award

Bill Simmons▶ 1:12:55Superboy
Chris Ryan▶ 1:13:03Superboy

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:18:02Want more background/flashback on the chokehold cop; Is this better if Keitel and De Niro switch roles; In 2022, is Superboy a podcaster
Chris Ryan▶ 1:18:11Explains the chokehold cop situation (police brutality case, in jail, grand jury); thinks role switching wouldn't make it worse; suggests Berta could have a podcast
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:18:50Discusses trade-offs of role switching (lose 'you blow it' but get more De Niro); asks why De Niro did this movie

Is This Movie Better With

Bill Simmons▶ 1:20:55Jon Bernthal — John Berthal as Wayne Jenkins
Bill Simmons▶ 1:21:03Jon Bernthal — Berthal could have played multiple parts; Catherine Han could play Liz.

Just One Oscar

Chris Ryan▶ 1:21:08J.T. Walsh — Discussed J.T. Walsh as bartender at four aces, with another host agreeing he would have been like the John Spencer character
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:21:10J.T. Walsh — Agreed J.T. Walsh would have been his answer, comparing him to John Spencer's role

Best Double Feature

Bill Simmons▶ 1:21:52Prince of the City — Prince of the City paired with Copland (Prince of the City first, then Copland)
Chris Ryan▶ 1:22:25Pride and Glory — Two suggestions: Pride and Glory (Colin Farrell, Ed Norton) or Place Beyond the Pines (Ray Liotta performance)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:22:14Prince of the City — Agrees with Prince of the City first, then Copland, with preference for better movie running first in double features

Coach Finstock Life Lesson

Bill Simmons▶ 1:24:18Don't live in the part in your jersey that's really close to the water
Chris Ryan▶ 1:24:14You don't go down Broadway to get to Broadway
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:24:41Move diagonal - life is not a straight line, you have to constantly pivot and make choices

Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 1:25:12Ray Liotta

Movies Referenced (53)

Goodfellas (1990)

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 5:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jackie Brown (1997)

8 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 34:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Pulp Fiction (1994)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 10:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rocky (1976)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 12:01IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Walk the Line (2005)

5 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 17:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Beautiful Girls (1996)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 1:10:22IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Prince of the City (1981)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 1:21:52IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Casino (1995)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 55:41IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Great Expectations (1998)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 1:11:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Heat (1995)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 55:43IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Knocked Up (2007)

3 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 24:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Raging Bull (1980)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 49:34IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (4)

James Mangold

7 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Logan▶ 10:58IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chris Corner

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Saint, Open Your Eyes▶ 1:17:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Howard Hawks

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Rio Bravo▶ 21:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Ford

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Quiet Man▶ 21:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (45)

Robert De Niro

29 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver▶ 10:48IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ray Liotta

18 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Goodfellas, Field of Dreams▶ 2:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Edie Falco

12 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 16:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harvey Keitel

9 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Reservoir Dogs, Bad Lieutenant, The Grand Budapest Hotel▶ 9:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Frank Vincent

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for Goodfellas, Casino▶ 16:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Janeane Garofalo

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Ratatouille▶ 9:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Method Man

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Garden State, Soul Plane▶ 11:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Robert Patrick

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day▶ 16:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

John Spencer

6 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons · Known for WarGames, The Rock▶ 16:37IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Paul Calderon

6 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for King of New York, Four Rooms, Pulp Fiction▶ 16:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Gary Sinise

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Forrest Gump, Of Mice and Men, Apollo 13▶ 1:00:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Malik Yoba

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan · Known for Cool Runnings, Cop Land▶ 16:39IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (4)

Bruce Springsteen

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Wrestler, Philadelphia▶ 38:27IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Harvey Weinstein

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Shakespeare in Love, The Hateful Eight▶ 24:11IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 23:32IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Taylor Sheridan

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for Hell or High Water, Wind River▶ 13:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

Gordon Willis

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Godfather Part II▶ 43:09IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Albert Car

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Without Remorse▶ 39:57IMDb ↗Lb ↗