cop car
I love a side of bacon, Kevin Bacon that is!
2016 movie review 9:
Cop Car: (Drama/Thriller): 69 out of 100: Kevin Bacon, an underrated actor who has appeared in movies for well over 30 years, has the type of face and personality that enable him to convincingly play the hero or the villain. Here, he plays the sheriff of a small town who seems to be the good guy to his colleagues but little do they know about his crooked side. Bacon has featured in both blockbusters and independent productions and this time, it's the latter which showcases his acting abilities. It's a slow burning thriller, leisurely in pace for most of the film until the confrontation between sheriff and the children who have taken his police car.
Bacon plays Sheriff Kretzer who leaves his police car momentarily while he disposes of a body. When he returns he discovers that his car has disappeared. Bev (Camryn Manheim) notices two boys in possession of the car as she drives by and notifies the authorities. These two boys under 10, Travis (James Freedson-Jackson) and Harrison (Hays Wellford), are running away from home and decide to take the car for a joyride. Kretzer wants his car back before the two boys discover something that could incriminate him.
The two boys who play the runaways are excellent and they share several gripping moments which demonstrate their talents. They appear in many of the scenes and if they had failed, the movie wouldn't have been able to project the tension which is evident during the second half of the story. It does take a while to reach that tension however with many scenes being filmed at a leisurely pace. If it's action you're after, you will be sorely disappointed.
Bacon is fantastic in his good guy/bad guy role. It's easy to see why he can be trusted with his calm demeanour and softly spoken voice but when he erupts, it would be best not to be anywhere near him. There's not much of a backstory to his character as to why he chooses the wrong side of the law so one has to assume that it's for extra, though dirty money.
Since most of the first half of the film is slowly-paced, this allows for many scenic shots of the wide open locations on display. This promotes the grand spaces that the children must endure and is beneficial in highlighting the chase aspect of the story.
If the tension was all through the film and the pacing more efficient, this would have made for a more exciting time in the cinema. Nevertheless, there are several memorable moments that ensure this is still worthy viewing and not a time waster.
Starring Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford and Camryn Manheim
(89 minutes)
Parental advice: Coarse language, violence, adult themes and drug use
Additional scene during or after credits: No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0abWuHBJRg (Movie trailer)
(Reviewed on Wednesday 20th January, 2016)
For my latest reviews, go to this link: http://mlaimlai2.wix.com/magical-movie-review
