Cop Car (2015) Reviews

• A very good slice of Bacon

  Red-Barracuda2015-06-25

  I guess you would have to describe Cop Car as a high concept movie, i.e. a film whose story can succinctly be described in one sentence. This is essentially about a couple of kids who steal a cop car belonging to a sheriff who it soon transpires is a very bad man. Do not let the simplicity of the set-up put you off though, as this is a lean film with a lot of good things about it. Firstly, we have the two young boys who are a great central pairing; they really act like genuine kids and are very sympathetic and humorous throughout. Secondly, we have Kevin Bacon giving yet another good performance as the bad cop. Thirdly, this is well-paced and builds quite a bit of tension as events escalate to an ending that is a little surprising. Fourthly, it's a rather well photographed and scored affair, with the sparse Colorado plains scenery shot nicely in widescreen. This is a very good example of a film that keeps things simple while never forgetting to entertain and surprise. It's well acted, photographed and directed. It has well-handled suspense and characters you actually care about. Can't say fairer than that really.

  More

• Another good piece of acting.

  kadushke2016-04-07

  I must confess - i chose to watch this movie purely because of Kevin Bacon. He chooses his characters very carefully so i knew this film is going to be good at some point. ???? The story is about two boys who steel a cop car and a cop (not good one) who tries to retrieve it back. The story simple, only three characters to concentrate on - and very real. Yes, real, because children these days can be that stupid, and cops these days can be that "of the line". What i liked about this film is that it's not over crowded with unnecessary story lines, characters - it has only whats needed. And in a short time they can tell a lot that way. Beautiful nature, as it is, small town's life without any "glamour". And good acting - kids acted very naturally, Kevin Bacon of course was very good as always. I admire his talent to "get into" character he is playing. I enjoyed this film - don't know why, but at some point it reminded me of "Perfect world" with Kevin Costner, just with less action ????

  More

• Solid film, the type I wish they'd make more of.

  colmagn2015-08-14

  Great characters. Their back stories are hinted at and your imagination fills in the gaps. Great writing. The dialogue has weight and sounds natural. Great scenery. It's on the outskirts of an old dusty town, way out in the back-roads of somewhere and it looks beautiful. Great storyline and a great score all at a nice pace and under a one and half hour running time. It has no need for flashy, gimmicky explosions or a convoluted and overly-complicated plot. This is the best film I saw this summer. It's a simple original story that keeps you wondering what will happen next. I don't know how a film like this can get made any more. Kevin Bacon was pretty great too.

  More

• It's a cat and mouse game where the stakes can get you killed

  Ed-Shullivan2018-03-19

  I'm sure there are many viewers who just do not believe this plot is realistic. I mean, why would a small town sheriff (Kevin Bacon) leave his cop car unattended while in the process of burying a man he just killed? No, I never did run into a similar incident but as a young boy my friends and I found ourselves in a few positions of opportunity that most young boys would run away from whereas we ran towards the trouble. These two young boys named Travis (James Freedson-Jackson) and Harrison (Hays Wellford) feed off of each others sense of adventure and as their respective parents are somewhat absent (Harrison is being raised by his grandmother and Travis has his mother and a stepfather) they stumble upon Sherif Kretzer's unattended cop car and like two kittens who start pawing at a ball of yarn, before they can say MEOW their next behind the cop car's wheel and rolling down them there hills doing 100 miles per hour. This film takes place over a short span of a few hours and as most parents can attest to as well as any juvenile delinquent, it does not take these two particular ten year old mischievous boys long to find a little bit of trouble escalate into a whole lot of trouble. When the boys stop their joyriding they soon realize that there is someone in the trunk of the cop car who Sheriff Kretzer has certainly laid a pretty bad beating on. The boys untie the bloodied prisoner (Shea Whigham) only to have the man they just helped confiscate their rifles they have been playing around with and lock the two mischievous boys in the back of the cop car using them as bait waiting for just the right opportunity to get his revenge on Sheriff Kretzer. It's a cat and mouse game and these two young boys did not deserve the fate bestowed upon them but nor did they have to initiate it either by stealing a cop car. The film is not without some faults but let's just say "that stupid is, as stupid does, and trash like this can and does happen from time to time." I liked the film overall and I give it a 7 out of 10 rating.

  More

• Surreal adventure

  cekadah2015-08-30

  In my opinion 'Cop Car' can be described as a surreal adventure for two intrepid young souls. Two boys about 9 or 10 years old are taken with 'running away from home' and discover the world outside of their youthful knowledge & experience is more than they ever imagined. Director/writer: Jon Watts and writer: Christopher D. Ford have smartly kept the dialog minimal and the setting vast and expansive. In doing this the viewer must concentrate solely on and only on the main characters - Kretzer, Travis & Harrison. These three are the story! In the grand open landscape they are the only movement & action to be seen. The pacing of the movie takes the viewer on a roller coaster ride of tension and suspense. Just like a roller coaster the start is a slow climb up then the action starts. You do not know what is going to happen to the two intrepid boys (Travis & Harrison) while they are innocently on their own. Then Kretzer shows up and the tension builds and builds. This is a fine bit of cinema - simple, fast, suspenseful - and only 4 main characters to concentrate on. I recommend watching this movie because anyone who likes a real 'seat gripper' gets a great payoff.

  More