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Daring Detectives and Courageous Cops Top 10 Cop Dramas.Dec 17 '05 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Cop films cover several genres, from comedies and action films, to thrillers and dramas. This is my list of my favorite cop dramas. Cops, Detectives, Crime investigation; everyone loves a good tale of those who catch the criminals. Although cop movies come in comedies and dramas, this list focuses on the serious side of law enforcement, I will cover a comedy list of cop films some other day. Ten - Narc (directed by Joe Carnahan) I saw this gritty indie cop film in the bargain bin, and was amazed at what a fine film it was. Jason Patric plays Nick Tellis a police officer fired for accidently shooting a pregnant woman and brought back to investigate a dead narcotics officer. Tellis is teamed with Henry Oak (Ray Liotta) and what seems to be a routine investigation quickly turns into a riveting drama. Nine - Serpico (1973 directed by Sidney Lumet) This was one of the great roles done by Al Pacino well before he became a parody of himself. The movie was based on a real life story of an undercover cop in New York, Frank Serpico, fighting corruption in the police department. Eight - The French Connection (1971 - directed by William Friedkin) This film starring Gene Hackman as Detective "Popeye" Doyle tryng to track and stop a huge heroin shipment. This film features the car chase scene by which all car chase scenes are measured. Seven - Insomnia (1997 directed by Erik Skjokdbjairg and starring Stellan Skarsgard) But, Mark, Insomnia starred Al Pacino and Robin Williams and it was directed by Chrisopher Nolan! Ummm, no it wasn't, the exact copy of the movie released in 2002 and based on this original Swedish film would be the one you are thinking of. If you have seen the riveting film set in Alaska about the murder of a young girl, followed by a good cop accidently murdering his partner and covering it up, you owe it to yourself to see the original film set in Sweden. Skarsgard (The Glass House, Ronin plays the role that went to Pacino in the Hollywood update. I saw this movie two years before Hollywood "borrowed" it scene for scene. Six - Heat (1995 directed by Michael Mann) This movie has some of the best actors in Hollywood. Al Pacino is the cop Lt. Hanna after the thief Robert DiNiro. Val Kilmer also has an excellent role as a thief who wants out after one more score. Its a cat and mouse game as the two face each other The tone, the sound, the script of this film all earn this film a place in the top ten of cop films. Five - To Live and Die in L.A. 1985 directed by William Friedkin) With a soundtrack by Wang Chung of all bands, this film really captivated me when I first saw it. I was upset that I couldn't find it until a recent release on DVD. William Petersen (Gil Grisham of C.S.I.)plays a secret service agent investigating a counterfeiter. Things don't quite go right in his investigation when the wrong people are gunned down. Willem Dafoe is great as the bad guy counterfeiter Masters. I also thought it was one of the best damn car chase scenes since The French Connection (which should be no big suprise because its the same director). Dark, moody, tense, this was a great movie. Four - Dirty Harry (1971) Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood)pretty much invented the anti-hero cop and he hasn't been matched since. This was a riveting tale and has placed itself squarely into our cultural conciousness. Who doesn't know that the .44 magnum is the most powerful handgun in the world or remember the catch phrase Do you feel lucky punk?. Three - City by the Sea (2002 directed by Michael Caton-Jones) Just when you think DiNiro has lost it and is just riding on his old reputation, he stars in a film like this. This was one of the most moving intense cop films I have seen. DeNiro's portrayal of a hardened New York City cop makes his character rise miles above cliches. Homicide Detective Vincent LaMarca seemed very human and real as he struggled to deal with issues of the crime he is investigating, an estranged son who appears to be the prime suspect in a brutal slaying, and his estranged wife and distant girlfriend. This is not just another cop movie, it is drama at its best, and DeNiro's finest role in years. Two - Se7en (1995 directed by David Fincher) Before Fight Club Fincher brought us this sordid tale of the tracking of a serial killer who murders for each of the seven deadly sins. Morgan Freeman plays his usual wise detective to rookie Brad Pitt. My favorite drill sergeant, R.Lee Ermey plays their police captain. This film is not for the squeamish, as each of the killers victims are shown in C.S.I. closeup detail. Kevin Spacey plays one sick twisted little puppy in this film. Don't open the box! One - L.A. Confidential (1997) This film about crime and corruption in 1950s Los Angeles is about as good as it gets. LAs finest are played by a who's who of Hollywood. Guy Pearce is by the book Sgt. Exley. Russell Crowe is by his own rules "Bud" White, and James Cromwell is a hardnosed Police Captain. Even Kevin Spacey plays a role in this as a publicity hungry detective, and Danny DeVito is a popular photographer for a tabloid. Kim Basinger plays a gorgeous femme fatale high priced call girl who looks like Veronica Lake. Theres been a murder at a local cafe, and its obvious that three young black kids did it. But it doesn't add up, and soon you will be wondering who did commit the murders, who is good, who is bad, and who is lying to whom. This is a great cop film that plays out in perfect film noir fashion with all the sex, violence, double crossing, and good cop bad cop you need for a great film. Not on my list: Training Day How this film caught the attention of the Academy Awards, I have no idea.  |
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