Officer Down - Dirty Copland

Police detective David 'Cal' Callahan (Stephen Dorff) takes down a rapist cop but his boss Captain Verona (James Woods) cuts a deal to sweep the embarrassing situation under the rug. Cal is still haunted by a traffic stop where he was almost killed. One night, a man, claiming to be his unknown savior, comes to him with his dead daughter's diary. Zhanna Dronov (AnnaLynne McCord) was a stripper who started dating a client called Angel (Walton Goggins).

I like the dark tone, Dorff's performance, and big revelation. On the other hand, the first half is too complicated, there are too many flashbacks, and there are too many characters to focus on. This movie should focus on Cal and his Captain, Zhanna and Angel. Cal may not even need a family. It should explain more clearly Cal's investigation of Angel. He should probably assume that Angel is Zhanna's pimp to start. The overall story just needs more clarity. While this is by no means great, it is good enough with that reveal.

When I started watching this film I was trying to figure out where it was going for the first hour. And with a film that approximately 1hr37mins that's pushing my limits on clarity (or as the politicians call it, transparency). On the other hand what fun would it be it we could figure out what was going to happen next (but I do like to know what's happening now).

All the actors do a good job. James Woods is always great and he maintains his standing in this film. Dorff is believable as the alcohol/drug abusing detective, although I don't know if many police departments would allow his attire, demeanor and foul odor to continue for very long. I like Walton Goggins in this although I don't think there was enough of him. That broad toothy smile of his is a trademark but we did not see any of that in this flick.

Even after the film discloses part of the overall plot and what you think is the missing piece there is still a finish that surprises. Otherwise, this would be a humdrum movie.

One concept that was used extensively were flashbacks, especially at the beginning, that left me confused about what the actual storyline was or which storyline I was suppose to follow. But I got past it and enjoyed the movie.

This film is worth a watch.

"Today is the day I die." Detective Callahan (Dorff) is a good cop with a checkered past. While out protecting someone he gives chase and does what he has to do, when the person he is chasing turns out to be a cop he wonders what is going on. Things begin to become confusing to him and he is struggling to do his job and fall back into his old ways. This movie starts off very exciting and gripping and stays that way for about half the movie. Then it starts to slow down a little. I think the problem with this is that it is a really good idea for a TV show but when stretched out into a full length movie they have to drag some things out and that really hurts the pace of the movie. This is still worth watching though and keeps you interested for most of it. While not amazing this is still better then most of the movies like this that have come out. Overall, worth seeing but would have been better as a TV show like "Blue Bloods" or "NYPD Blue". I give it a B.

In Bridgeport, Connecticut, Detective David 'Cal' Callahan (Stephen Dorff) is a family man, married with Alexandra (Elisabeth Röhm) with the teenage daughter Lanie (Beatrice Miller). Cal has an unscrupulous past, drug and alcohol addicted, and he has reborn when he was shot by a drug dealer and saved by a stranger.

When a stranger meets Cal in a bar, he tells that he was the one who saved him and gives the journal of his deceased daughter to Cal. He tells to Cal that she committed suicide after Angel (Walton Goggins), a regular of a night-club owned by the drug dealer Royce Walker (Dominic Purcell) where she danced, beaten up on her and raped her in the parking area. Cal investigates Angel and when he sees the man in his car in front of the school where Lanie studies, he believes that Angel is a pedophile and Cal decides to take an attitude. But he finds that he is a marionette and someone is pulling the strings and watching him dance.

"Officer Down" is a good police story with a non-linear screenplay developed like a puzzle with flashbacks and plot points that keeps the truth hidden until the conclusion. Detective David 'Cal' Callahan is tailored to Stephen Dorff that has good performance and James Woods is great as usual. The conclusion with the redemption of Cal is a little disappointing and unbelievable especially considering that Cal has a family to support and certainly mortgage to pay, and spending five years in prison does not seem to be a second chance in life. He could have accepted the report offered by Captain Verona and turned into a good cop. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Rastros de Violência" ("Violence Tracks")

Deep in Characters this is quite an Engaging, but Bleak and Cold, look at another Tortured Cop who seeks a Second Chance. It is a Rich Story-Line that Requires the Viewer to pay Attention with Twists and Turns and multiple Flashbacks.

It has a Crisp and Clear Look and the Performances are (except for the ever intense and intemperate Dorff) Stiff, but Credible. Police Cover-Ups and Stripper's Uncovered are Nothing New but this, based on a True Case, Fine at a Bad Cop Gone Good Story.

This Barely Released Movie is Worth a Watch for its Rich and Layered Production that Demands some Respect Despite some Indifference from the Money-Men and Critics.