Police corruption is a major social danger, and some of the best films in history have featured dirty cops as key antagonists.Chinatownportrays the entire justice system as under the thumb of the rich and powerful.Training Dayfeatures one of film history’s best dirty cop portrayals inDenzel Washington’s Alonzo.Christopher Nolan’sDark Knight Trilogyfeatures many corrupt officers, whileThe Departedfollows a cop who’s a mole for the Irish Mob, andSerpicosees an idealistic New York cop take on corruption within the NYPD. These fictional cases aside, one of the most infamous stories of police corruption in history was that ofStephen CaracappaandLouis Eppolito, a pair of NYPD officers who spent decades working for the mafia before receiving life sentences after their retirement.Mob Copsis based on that story,building up to the exciting sting that brought them to justice, but which otherwise fails to stand out.
What is ‘Mob Cops’ About?
Sammy Canzano (David Arquette) and Leo Benetti (Jeremy Luke) are a pair of crooked NYPD officers on the mob’s dole, who get increasingly deep in mob entanglement and continuously shady activity over their long career on the Force. They’re opposed by the increasingly watchful eye of Detective Delgado (played byDanny Abeckaser, who also directs and takes on production duties in the film), who can’t seem to make anything stick to the crooked duo.He finally has an inroad following their retirement after one of these dirty cops writes a book about their mafia-adjacent experiencesand time on the force, building up to one key operation.
‘Mob Cops’ Has A Talented Central Cast But It’s Weighed Down By Its Script
The script forMob Copsroutinely feels like a pastiche of various other mafia-set movies. There are needlessly stiff moments throughout, with entire sections plastered with clunky dialogue or exposition-heavy voice-overs. Two key moments, however, are done fairly well. The lead-up to the dirty cops' most deadly mob activity, the kind of unethical action you don’t come back from, is built up well, whilethe finale’s sting operation (connected to a supposed feature adaptation of a book deal) is far and away the best and most original segment. At the same time, the finale could benefit from greater tension and increased time, an unfortunately short-changed moment that’s one of the film’s finer elements.
Arquette gives a Stoic performance as Sammy Canzano, the more serious and risk-averse of the pair.It’s a pity that Arquette isn’t given a little more opportunity to shine, or more memorable dialogue, but he’s still a charismatic enough performer to add some gravitas to the character. Benetti loves the limelight along with the privileges coruption brings, and jumps at the chance to meet with a Hollywood producer… he’s a lively character, and Jeremy Luke adds vigor behind him. Abeckaser puts a lot of passion behind Det. Delgado that’s an enjoyable driving force to watch, though all these characters could be given a few more layers to fuel their performances.
David Arquette and Jeremy Luke Channel Their Inner Gangsters in ‘Mob Cops’ Trailer [Exclusive]
Based on a true story, the crime thriller also features performances from Kevin Connolly, Joseph Russo, and more.
Mob Copshas a lot of potential, with a set of solid performers in its lead roles and a harrowing real-life case fueling its narrative. The direction is surely capable enough, and it’s a well-lit and capably shot film (especially when the characters are allowed to exist outside narrow cells and rooms), but there are unfortunate limitations that keep any of these factors from coming to full fruition. There are ample unmet opportunities for memorable set-pieces, moments of overbearing voice-over that dump exposition indistinguishable from so many other mafia movies, and characters who aren’t written with nearly enough depth. It’s a film haunted by the roads not taken throughout, in its narrative, dialogue, andeven with a finale that could have been a beautiful exercise in tension.
‘Mob Cops’ Has Potential But Never Quite Reaches It
It’s unfortunate that greater effort wasn’t made, asMob Copsstands out as its own original tale. Stories set around the mafia and their orbit set an admittedly high bar, with genuine masterpieces likeThe Godfather Parts I and II,Goodfellas,The Untouchables, andThe Sopranosfinding ample originality and drama in these premises to feel unique. There’s still room to have solid, dramatic, engaging mafia-centric films even if they don’t achieve those unenviable levels of comparison, sure, but a little more care has to be taken to find components that feel unique.Mob Copshas an interesting true story at its heart, and a talented central cast to convey it, but there are self-imposed limitations baked into its core.There may have been a great movie here, but it simply doesn’t achieve that potential.
‘Mob Cops’ boasts solid leads but fails to stand out among a crowd of crooked cops and mafiosos.
Set against the backdrop of New York City, Mob Cops chronicles a veteran detective’s pursuit to uncover the truth behind the corrupt activities of two notorious NYPD officers. Based on true events.
