Copshop

Joe Carnahan should be a trademark for good action movies, this virtuoso writer and director is capable of constantly surprising us and above all of bringing to life spectacular action scenes that are rarely seen on screen. This goldsmith has orchestrated a succession of action films that deserve to be seen again and again such as Narc (2002), Smokin' Aces (2007), The A-Team (2010), The Grey (2012), Boss Level (2021). While his previous film Boss Level seemed to have been left without a release date for a long time, this one had completely won us over with its mix of action and science fiction scenes, supported by a strong cast with Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts and Ken Jeong.  For his new film, released on September 17 in the United States, Joe Carnahan co-wrote the screenplay with Kurt McLeod and once again behind the camera orchestrated an action film as original as it is spectacular. The film is reminiscent of the many successful and memorable action films of the 1980s and 1990s, including films like John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 (1976). 

Driving through the Nevada desert in a bullet-riddled Crown Vic, con man Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo) hatches a desperate plan to hide from hitman Bob Viddick (Gerard Butler), beating up young officer Valerie Young (Alexis Louder) only to be arrested and locked up in a small town police station. But prison can't protect Murretto for long. Viddick makes his way to the jail, waiting in a nearby cell to complete his mission. When the arrival of a rival assassin, Anthony Lamb (Toby Huss), sparks chaos, the growing threats force Viddick to get creative if he wants to finish the job and escape the volatile situation. Virtually all of the action takes place in a police station and pits three men, Teddy, Bob and Anthony, against each other in a bloody cat-and-mouse game.

Director Joe Carnahan has no equal when it comes to staging an array of eccentric people that may remind some of Quentin Tarantino's, but also perfectly choreographed action scenes. In this case the psychopathic killer Anthony Lamb (Toby Huss) is really scary and seems uncontrollable. In the same way, while the leading lady of this film is the excellent actor Gerard Butler, who is used to action films, it is rather the supporting cast that finds important roles here, such as the actress Alexis Louder who plays the officer Valerie Young (Alexis Louder) and has to deal with a mobster and two killers, each with their own way of proceeding. Frank Grillo once again breaks his image of vigilante and thus finds the director Joe Carnahan after Boss level (2021). He perfectly holds the distance against the actor Gerard Butler. The excellent idea of opposing these two actors certainly gives this film an undeniable aura as putting them in two opposite cages in this police station that will be the site of a killing as impressive as that of James Cameron in Terminator. The numerous armed confrontations will also remind us of John Woo's Hollywood glory days and recent Hong Kong action films.

Director Joe Carnahan seems to enjoy playing with opposites and confrontations of all kinds in his film and once again points to the police with their corrupt officers. Far from being a new film tailored to Gerard Butler, Copshop shows us that there is always a worse person to do the worst things and that mobsters have no real code of conduct. Similarly, despite the presence of Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo, it is the actress Alexis Louder (Watchmen, (2019), The Tomorrow War (2021) who imposes herself as the real hero of the film and the open ending shows her importance and the willingness of her character to go to the end of her case. 

Copshop is the perfect example of the film that our current era in the middle of a pandemic that never ends needs. A perfect mix between action, thriller and some well brought humor. Far from being a simple rehash of one of John Carpenter's masterpieces, Copshop finds its own trademark and imposes Joe Caranhan as a gifted director to give life to action movies.  A piece of advice: go and see this film in theaters if you are in the United States or in England, otherwise hope that it will be released soon in your country...

Copshop
Directed by Joe Carnahan
Screenplay by Kurt McLeod, Joe Carnahan
Story by Mark Williams, Kurt McLeod
Produced by Mark Williams, Tai Duncan, Warren Goz, Eric Gold, Joe Carnahan, Frank Grillo, Gerard Butler,, Alan Siegel, James Masciello
Starring Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder
Cinematography : Juan Miguel Azpiroz
Edited by Kevin Hale
Music by Clinton Shorter
Production companies : Zero Gravity Management, Sculptor Media, G-BASE Productions, WarParty Films
Distributed by Open Road Films (United States), STXfilms (International)
Release date : September 10, 2021 (United Kingdom), September 17, 2021 (United States)
Running time : 107 minutes

Seen on September 18, 2021 (screener press)

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