Copshop

I knew that Carnahan has it in him all the time. From the beginning, his stylish direction grabbed me and didn't let go until almost the end of the film. A simple, almost chamber-like subject was transformed into a perfectly fitting action flick through perfectly chosen actors (Frank Grillo should only play with long hair and Butler should just go for it!). It really pulled me in after a long time, and I wasn't expecting anything at all. That average rating is a mockery. If you like those old-school genre films like The Assault on Precinct 13, definitely give it a try. PS: I saved one last cherry for the end, and that's Alexis Louder, whom I devoured as that policewoman without any shame. (27.10.2021)

It’ll do as an action flick for a lazy afternoon. You can even catch up on some chores while you’re watching, as it’s not very demanding. I couldn’t help feeling that the film was trying to pretend it was better than it actually was. I’m sure Potemkin would be proud. All those supersmart and cool dialogues were actually about nothing, the amazing twists were hardly surprising, and the whole thing was just plain mediocre. The lesson I took away from the film is: "If you can't shoot, don't invest in a revolver, buy a shotgun instead. Preferably a semi-automatic." My other takeaway was that I learned to tell the difference between a professional killer and a psychopath. (14.01.2022)

A special conversation thriller with an almost absurd multiple ending. The grandson of a Nazi against all sorts of swines... It’s as if Carnahan is paying a twisted homage to Carpenter’s Assault on Precinct 13. Buttler is excellent, Grillo slightly outside his comfort zone and the awesome Toby Huss as a twisted psychopath balloon vendor, Antony Lamb. It has its moments, but overall it’s only got enough to score a high average. (18.10.2021)

This Nevada police station is precisely the kind where its members look at the night sky, wondering how far the moon is when they find out they have to go for a month-long training. Well, except for one policewoman who has watched the Dirty Harry films. A rather uninspiring rhetorical exercise with an attempt to raid the precinct again and create someone with the aura of Mr. Chigurh. The explosion of violence leaves it a clichéd B-movie where Carnahan's attractive style clashes with the script and the pathetic slow-motion shots compete with the speed of digital flames. As for the casting, I would swap Frank Grillo with Toby Huss and let balloons rise to the heavens. (24.11.2021)

Joe Carnahan is a fine director, he's done The A-Team, The Grey, Boss Level, Smokin' Aces and Stretch, he's even planning a remake of The Raid, but Copshop is the least interesting of his work to me. The whole film takes place in a police station with few characters and although it stars Butler and Grillo, it drags at times. I didn’t like the dialogue too much, the script isn't very imaginative and there’s no action the last half hour, which makes it all the more frustrating. A standard average that probably won't offend anyone, but at the same time you won't lose much by skipping it. Carnahan can definitely do better and hopefully his remake of The Raid won't be too much of a flop. Story 3/5, Action 3/5, Humour 1/5, Violence 2/5, Entertainment 3/5 Music 2/5, Visuals 3/5, Atmosphere 3/5, Suspense 2/5, Emotion 1/5, Actors 3/5. 5/10. (19.10.2021)