COPSHOP

US, 2021, 107 minutes, Colour.

Gerard Butler, Frank Grillo, Alexis Louder, Toby Huss, Chad L.Coleman, Ryan O'Nan.

Directed by Joe Carnahan.

With a title like that, we get a lot of what we might have anticipated – but, a lot we would not have anticipated, especially with most of the action taking place in the Nevada desert, rather large Copshop, police precincts as well as an upstairs prison with cells.

A film from action director, Joe Carnahan, who made such films as Smoke and Aces and The A Team. A lot of action here.

And, the stars of the film are tough men, Gerard Butler and Frank Grillo. And each of them has the opportunity to act tough.

However, the central character is really one of the deputies at the cop shop, Valerie Young, played effectively by Alexis Louder, rather inexperienced, even wounding herself while shooting at the villain and her bullet ricocheting and injuring her, but, even though nursing her wound, getting a lot of experiences of how to deal with criminals.

Frank Grillo plays Teddy Murretto, revealed as being a smart adviser but also revealed as rather ruthless, especially in robbing his bosses. He is first seen driving through the desert, crashing, running through the streets, knocking over Valerie Young and finding himself in a cell. Given that a number of people are after him, his cell seems somewhat of a safe place.

Except that into the desert drives Bobby Viddick, played with his usual aplomb by Gerard Butler, except that here he is first seen drunk, put in a cell opposite Teddy – and we are right in what we suspect. Bobby Viddick is after Teddy.

However, as with this kind of action show, a lot more complications, especially the Chicago bosses sending quite a psychotic hitman to kill Teddy (Toby Huss). That is not the only complication, there are local drug dealers and one of the police in the precinct is corrupt, with the consequences that the body count within the police precinct, within the copshop, gets higher and higher.

With the two men in the cells, with Valerie nursing her injury, with a psychotic killer roaming around, we can imagine all kinds of hypotheses has to what is the best solution, Valerie letting Teddy out and his coming to her help, or letting Bobby out even though she does not trust him? We are probably more or less right in what we suspect will happen.

Oh, there is also a further complication than some of the Nevada police are also crooked and are determined to get to Valerie and to suppress any information that might expose them.

Which means that Copshop more or less does what it sets out to do.

1. The title, expectations, police, the precincts?
2. The Nevada setting? The desert, the small town, the large precinct, offices, basement, upstairs cells and prison? The musical score?
3. Most of the action confined to the precinct, to the prison, to the cells? The action taking place within the precinct? The desert sequences, the car, the killings, the police, getting rid of the car?
4. The focus on Valerie Young, age, experience, police work, guns and shooting? Her collaboration with the team at the precinct, the range of police officers, the range of ethnic differences, their work together? The irony that so many would be killed? Huber as the rogue?
5. The situation, the chase in the desert, Teddy, the crash, his coming into the town, the pursuit, bumping into Valerie, his being arrested, in jail?
6. Bobby Viddiick, exploring, the car, pretending to be drunk, arrested, interned? His personality, his being employed as a hitman? Bosses in Chicago?
7. The gradual revelation about Teddy, his concern about his wife and child, the deaths, the bodies being found? His skills, advice, connections, payments, hiding the money? His being pursued? His fears? The confrontation with Bobby?
8. Bobby, personality, in the cell, coming alive, confrontation, explanations to Valerie?
9. The personalities of the police, working together, friendships, banter?
10. Huber, the drugs, concealment, phone calls, double dealings, eventually shooting of the police?
11. Anthony Lamb, his personality, reputation, psychotic, his manner, ruthless shootings, keeping up with Huber, the confrontation with Valerie, the using her wits, changing the code, blocking him out? His performance, singing, joking, the past connection with Bob, the threats?
12. Valerie, young, experience, integrity, dismay at the death of the police, changing the code, the bullet ricocheting and her being wounded? The dilemma for Teddy? Bob? Her standing firm?
13. Allowing Teddy out, fickle, confrontations, not intending to help? The final confrontation, Bob, his death?
14. Bob, trying to persuade Valerie, eventually getting out? Valerie, the deaths, confrontation by Teddy, by Anthony Lamb, Bob and his intervention?
15. The explanations, the arrival of the false police, wanting to cover up, the authentic police, the resolution of the case?