‘Cop Land’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
June 2, 2022 · Cop Land (1997) · Crime · Drama · Thriller · 1:29:27
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsThe bar scene with Leota versus Berg gambling talk and Leota versus Patrick with dart to the nose▶ 29:18
Chris RyanContributed commentary on the Superboy shooting scene and Stallone/De Niro confrontations but no clear single pick▶ 28:40
Sean FennesseyDiscussed multiple scenes including Superboy's accident/shooting scene details and praised the bar scene with Leota▶ 28:05
Hall of Fame Plaque
Bill SimmonsThe whole sequence starting with the peeper yelling about gambling through Big C at the bar - argues it's the template for The Sopranos▶ 33:22
Sean FennesseyThe 'you blew it' scene - personal pick due to shared experience with his brother▶ 33:38
What's Aged the Best
Bill SimmonsThe 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▶ 36:48
Chris RyanEdie 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▶ 35:33
Sean FennesseyThe authentic depiction of cop bar culture (pinball, dartboard, group dynamics) and good Springsteen song choices that weren't the obvious picks▶ 39:28
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Sean FennesseySuggested Scores and the shootout on the George Washington Bridge as alternatives▶ 42:53
Great Shot Gordo Award
Bill SimmonsWide shot of Stallone with the whole river and bridge behind him at the start of the shootout - described as a nice poster shot▶ 43:26
Chris RyanRay standing against the above-ground pool with the light reflecting off the green and white aluminum siding▶ 43:11
Sean FennesseyAgreed that both picks represent signature filmmaker moments showing visual ambition beyond just telling another crime story▶ 43:33
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsMultiple 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▶ 47:15
Chris RyanRay'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▶ 48:07
Sean FennesseyThe 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▶ 46:59
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsThe 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▶ 56:42
Chris RyanJoey 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▶ 53:39
Sean FennesseyThis 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▶ 55:22
Best Quote
Chris RyanNo, we're coming from Forest Hills, sweetheart. I'm John McEnroe. That's Jimmy Connors.▶ 57:40
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsRay Liotta — Ray Liotta as Sheriff Freddie and Sly Stallone as Figsy would make the movie bad and not work▶ 1:00:01
Chris RyanGary Sinise — Discusses how Sinise would be different from Stallone - more of a 'stepped on littler guy' versus Stallone's 'gentle giant'▶ 1:00:24
Sean FennesseyGary Sinise — Gary Sinise as Freddie would have been interesting due to his experience playing disabled characters and gravity as an actor▶ 1:00:11
Overacting Award
Bill SimmonsHarvey Keitel — Discusses Harvey Keitel's yelling scene but feels it's not great overacting, more like coasting performance▶ 1:01:41
Chris RyanRay Liotta — Suggests Ray Liotta's bridge scene ('Leo! He jumped! Oh my Jesus!') as overacting, asks about Figsy but concludes no▶ 1:02:14
Sean FennesseyHarvey Keitel — Defends Keitel yelling as always fun, references his Reservoir Dogs performance▶ 1:02:51
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Chris RyanDefends the casting choice somewhat, noting the town only has three cops and appreciates her character's ending▶ 1:04:18
Sean FennesseyUnderstands the character concept but acknowledges Garofalo as pure Gen X disaffection that doesn't fit the role▶ 1:04:08
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsNoah 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.▶ 1:10:12
Chris RyanRobert 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▶ 1:10:53
Sean FennesseyRobert 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.▶ 1:11:17
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsWant more background/flashback on the chokehold cop; Is this better if Keitel and De Niro switch roles; In 2022, is Superboy a podcaster▶ 1:18:02
Chris RyanExplains 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▶ 1:18:11
Sean FennesseyDiscusses trade-offs of role switching (lose 'you blow it' but get more De Niro); asks why De Niro did this movie▶ 1:18:50
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsJon Bernthal — Berthal could have played multiple parts; Catherine Han could play Liz.▶ 1:21:03
Just One Oscar
Chris RyanJ.T. Walsh — Discussed J.T. Walsh as bartender at four aces, with SPEAKER_01 agreeing he would have been like the John Spencer character▶ 1:21:08
Sean FennesseyJ.T. Walsh — Agreed J.T. Walsh would have been his answer, comparing him to John Spencer's role▶ 1:21:10
Best Double Feature
Bill SimmonsPrince of the City — Prince of the City paired with Copland (Prince of the City first, then Copland)▶ 1:21:52
Chris RyanPride and Glory — Two suggestions: Pride and Glory (Colin Farrell, Ed Norton) or Place Beyond the Pines (Ray Liotta performance)▶ 1:22:25
Sean FennesseyPrince of the City — Agrees with Prince of the City first, then Copland, with preference for better movie running first in double features▶ 1:22:14
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Sean FennesseyMove diagonal - life is not a straight line, you have to constantly pivot and make choices▶ 1:24:41
Movies Referenced (51)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 5:02 |
| Jackie Brown (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 34:28 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 10:14 |
| Walk the Line (2005) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 17:28 |
| Noah (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 16:33 |
| Prince of the City (1981) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:21:52 |
| Casino (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 55:41 |
| Knocked Up (2007) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:02 |
| Raging Bull (1980) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 49:34 |
| The Rock (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:08:00 |
| Wag the Dog (1997) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:11:05 |
| Analyze This (1999) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:11:40 |
Directors Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Mangold | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 10:58 | |
| Chris Corner | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | The Saint, Open Your Eyes | ▶ 1:17:28 |
| Howard Hawks | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 21:48 | |
| John Ford | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 21:48 |
Actors Referenced (45)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 29 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 10:48 |
| Ray Liotta | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 18 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Goodfellas, Field of Dreams | ▶ 2:47 |
| Edie Falco | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 12 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 16:49 | |
| Harvey Keitel | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Reservoir Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel | ▶ 9:53 |
| Frank Vincent | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Goodfellas, Casino | ▶ 16:47 |
| Janeane Garofalo | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Ratatouille | ▶ 9:55 |
| Method Man | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Garden State | ▶ 11:47 |
| Robert Patrick | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | ▶ 16:07 |
| John Spencer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | WarGames, The Rock | ▶ 16:37 |
| Paul Calderon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | King of New York, Four Rooms, Pulp Fiction | ▶ 16:54 |
| Gary Sinise | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Forrest Gump, Of Mice and Men, Apollo 13 | ▶ 1:00:08 |
| Malik Yoba | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Cool Runnings, Cop Land | ▶ 16:39 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruce Springsteen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Wrestler, Philadelphia | ▶ 38:27 |
| Harvey Weinstein | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Shakespeare in Love, The Hateful Eight | ▶ 24:11 |
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 23:32 | |
| Taylor Sheridan | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Hell or High Water, Wind River | ▶ 13:45 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Willis | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Godfather Part II | ▶ 43:09 |
| Albert Car | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 39:57 |