Teddy Murretto (Frank Grillo), sporting an absurd man bun, is so afraid for his life, he purposely gets himself arrested to get away from his enemies.
But bounty hunter Bob Viddick (Gerard Butler) finds his way into the same small-town Nevada police station and mayhem ensues.
“Copshop,” shot both in Georgia and New Mexico and out in theaters Sept. 17, is a classic cat-and-mouse game with lots of violence and oodles of witty banter.
Rookie cop Valerie Young, played with salty panache by Atlanta actress Alexis Louder, nearly steals the show from the coterie of bad guys that includes nutcase mobster Anthony Lamb (a delightfully unhinged Tony Huss) and Valerie’s sweaty turncoat cop colleague Huber (Ryan O’Nan.)
Butler, in a brief interview promoting the film with Louder via Zoom earlier this month, said his Viddick character is an “infamous, coldblooded, ruthless enigmatic killer who always gets to his target no matter how elaborate the scheme. The more challenging the better. He feels his job on this planet is to take down weak and spineless people. It may seem psychotic, but he feels like he’s doing a good thing.”
Viddick has a code of conduct and also takes great pride in his work, Butler noted. And Butler makes the character more likable than he probably deserves, even as he tortures his tormentors with workman-like efficiency.
Valerie takes on this crazy challenge with a certain level of glee, even when she is trapped at one point with Viddick and Teddy in the holding cell.
“She’s definitely intrigued by both of them,” Louder said. “She probably has dreams of getting into a bigger precinct like in New York. But luckily, trouble finds her.”
Credit: OPEN ROAD FILMS
Credit: OPEN ROAD FILMS
Critics generally have embraced “Copshop’s” Tarantino-esque approach with a 74% positive rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
Wes Greene, in Slant magazine, noted “its pulpy thrills, hyperbolic dialogue, charismatic scumbags,” lauding how it “effortlessly coasts on a gnarly old-school vibe.”
Michael O’Sullivan of The Washington Post calls the movie “formulaic” but says Louder is “well-grounded and brings charisma and intensity to her table-turning role.”
Louder credits director Joe Carnahan (”The Grey,” “Boss Level”) for upping her intensity and energy level for her role. “He has so much excitement behind the camera it’s like a pro wrestler directing your movie,” she said.
She explains why her character is unusually chipper for a police officer at the start of the film.
“I love that it was written that way. The other cops in the police station are very welcoming and respectful and accepting of this female addition to their team. That’s probably why she’s so jovial. She’s in a healthy work environment.”
Louder feels fortunate that she moved to Atlanta seven years ago. She has nabbed plenty of jobs on TV shows and films here including “The Originals,” “Greenleaf,” “Watchmen” and “The Tomorrow War.” Her “Copshop” role is her most prominent yet.
“The beautiful thing about when I moved to Atlanta, the industry was growing at the same time I was building my career,” Louder said. “We kind of grew together and I forever love Atlanta for that. I don’t plan on leaving.”
Butler has shot several movies in the metro area including “Den of Thieves” and “Greenland.” “I love Atlanta, too,” he said. “I’m always sad when I leave it. I’ve been thinking of buying a place there.”
Louder, seated next to Butler, suddenly became his mock financial advisor: “You’re wasting money. If you’re there all the time and not buying property, you’re wasting money! You should buy a house there.”
Butler: “I can rent. I can Airbnb.”
He’s glad that this film will be in movie theaters, unlike his action flick “Greenland,” which had to settle for video on demand late last year and is now available on HBO Max.
“This film is incredibly cinematic,” Butler said. “The drama works on the big screen. The action is superb. The cinematography is awesome. It’s explosive, intense and irreverent. It’s really fun, high-octane escapism that works best on the big screen with a big audience where you can share it together.”
WHERE TO WATCH
“Copshop,” in area theaters starting Sept. 17
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