Cop Car

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.

While many films use the device of a "real time" narrative for effect (ie, where the viewer is given the sense that he/she is a participant in real time in the story) very few films run the device for the full length.

For example, the Bourne films went into real time when the main character was on screen, but otherwise maintained a traditional narrative. Examples of standout real-time films would include Tom Cruise (amazing) in COLLATERAL; Dennis Weaver in DUEL; and the Canadian sci-fi epic, CUBE.

So now that you know first-rate films CAN potentially be made using the technique, the writer/director of this film (to be kind) did not set his sights quite that high.

Overall, it is not a bad film, it is incredibly engaging given how little is actually going on. However, while all films require a suspension of disbelief, the overall problem with COP CAR is that the two lead characters, boys of about ten years of age, are written as the dumbest children ever to appear in a feature film.

Seriously. In an age where even the Disney channel attributes 'tude, street cred, smarts and fast moves to 7 year olds (ask your child if you don't believe me) these two characters as written are so far removed from coherent thought that the audience starts to wonder if they escaped from "special class." To use the term "pig stupid" for these kids effectively slanders the pig.

Bacon is excellent. Would like to see more of him in features.

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.

A pair of ten-year-olds (James Freedson-Jackson , Hays Wellford) find an abandoned cop car in a field. When they take it for a joyride, it seems like they could murder themselves at any moment. But things only get worse when the small town sheriff (Kevin Bacon) goes looking for his missing car. To further complicate matters, a woman (Camryn Manheim) driving across the road sees the two children driving the police car. The kids find themselves in the center of a deadly game of cat and mouse they don't understand and the only way out is to go as fast as their cop car can take them. Their first drive could be their last ! . The ride is just getting started !.

This is a small thriller with surprises , intrigue , suspense and solid interpretations . Here the main entertainment is to see these two innocent children : James Freedson-Jackson , Hays Wellford playing , amusing , and make mischief, frolics and have fun themselves . While the adults actors are pretty good , such as Kevin Bacon, Camryn Manheim , Shea Whigham and Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon's wife, is the voice-in-off of the dispatcher. With special mention for Kevin Bacon who steals the show as the small-town sheriff sets out to find the two kids who have taken his car on a joy ride . It's a treat to watch Kevin Bacon giving overacting and angry faces while pursues and harasses his two little victims . As the playful children and the cunning cop holding a long confrontation packing intrigue , shocks , outdoors scenario , suspense , emerging twists and turns at the worst possible time.

Financed in short budget by Andrew and Walter Kortschak , Michaela McKee, Dianne McGunigle , Bill Perry and by director Jon Watts himself and actor Kevin Bacon himself. This better than expected motion picture was competently written, produced and directed by Jon Watts. This craftsman Jon Watts is an expert American director and screenwriter. This fine filmmaker started directing shorts, TV films, series , and getting hits as "The Clown", "Cop Car" and the box office successes : "Spiderman Homecoming" starring Tom Holland and Zendaya and "Spiderman Far from Home" . He directed Cop Car and Clown before he was picked by Marvel and Sony to direct Spider-Man: Homecoming . It's success resulted in two sequels, Far from Home in 2019 and No Way Home in 2021. He was also picked by Marvel to direct a Fantastic Four reboot film following the failure of Josh Trank's 4 Fantastic, but dropped the directing role . Rating : 6.5/10, decent thriller movie .

Some people forget their bags, luggage or whatever, others lose their car. Though that wouldn't make this justice. It's a what would happen if situation. It feels like the movie might have sprung out of the idea, what if two boys found a cop car and started messing around with it. The movie feels like this was the starting point and also the point where the viewer is not exactly sure what's going to happen next.

Which is a good thing. You keep guessing what is up next, where the movie will be heading (pun intended). The boys are perfectly cast and they really don't seem like they're acting at all. Kevin Bacon is hard to read as always, as is the situation in general. Just when you thought you figured it out, something else happens that you didn't see coming