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News / Columns / Total Recall
Total Recall: The 10 Most Corrupt Cops in Movies
by Sara Schieron
Discuss Article
Page | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2. Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) in L.A. Confidential

Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) isn't as crazy Oldman's Stansfield in Léon, but he's working on a much larger scale. The seemingly upstanding Captain Smith asks purist recruit Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) to rat out corrupt cops, in what seems to be a genuine effort to clean up the department, but Smith is merely covering his bases. He's also using the brutish Bud White (Russell Crowe) on a goon squad that runs mobsters out of L.A so that Smith can maintain control of the city's drug traffic. James Cromwell is frighteningly believable as the "man in charge," especially once we see how corrupt he really is.



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Comments (1-20 of 35 posts) | Reply
zaccman922
zaccman922 writes:
on Apr 09 2008 07:21 PM

Hank Hill is the redneck from "king of the hill." His name in Goodfellas was Henry Hill.

(Reply to this)
psycho7878
psycho7878 writes:
on Apr 09 2008 07:34 PM

Gary is the ****...

(Reply to this)
chazbow
chazbow writes:
on Apr 09 2008 07:44 PM

You missed two of the best bad cops. Ironically, both of these films came out in 1990: Richard Gere as Officer Dennis Peck in "Internal Affairs" and Nick Nolte as Lt. Mike Brennan in "Q & A."

(Reply to this)
kevboet
kevboet writes:
on Apr 09 2008 07:59 PM

Where, in the name of god, is Orson Welles as Hank Quinlan in "Touch of Evil"? It's a no-brainer, especially given that his co-star was Charlton Heston.

Or, for that matter, almost anybody in "Copland"? Though I guess Harvey Keitel can't get two spots, but...c'mon, now. That was some A-grade corruption in there.


(Reply to this)
IHeartApathy
IHeartApathy writes:
on Apr 09 2008 08:16 PM

I know it's the wrong medium, but Vic Mackey was the first name I thought of. Also, Kurt Russell's character in Dark Blue was quite horrible.

(Reply to this)
dirtydan
dirtydan writes:
on Apr 09 2008 08:28 PM

How about Gene Hackman as Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven.Pretty mean s.o.b.[just ask Morgan Freeman].

(Reply to this)
jokerboy1991
jokerboy1991 writes:
on Apr 09 2008 08:47 PM

Im looking foward to STREET KINGS, My favorite corrupt cop flick is definately LA CONFIDENTAl.

(Reply to this)
tomwaitsjr
tomwaitsjr writes:
on Apr 09 2008 09:56 PM

Not to be too recent, but Josh Brolin's character in American Gangster was extremely corrupt.

The Most Corrupt Cop, EVER, by FAR, was Philippe Noiret as Lucien Cordier in Coup de Torchon (Clean Slate) based on Jim Thompson's Pop 1280.

Yah, it's French, so that opens up a bag of worms, but anybody who has read some Jim Thompson knows how flat out manipulative and evil his characters can be.

[But the full frontal nude scene of Harvey Keital is horrible. Horrible.]


(Reply to this)
premierbaron
premierbaron writes:
on Apr 09 2008 11:12 PM

American Gangster
they took down loads of corrupt cops at the end
and Batman Begins


(Reply to this)
Demmi
Demmi writes:
on Apr 09 2008 11:37 PM

I was expecting to see sherrif wydell from the devil's rejects in there, after all there aren't many cops that torture criminals, kill innocents and gratuitously insult groucho (I actually cringed at that moment) all in the same week!

(Reply to this)
adobe4578
adobe4578 writes:
on Apr 09 2008 11:42 PM

Hank Quinlin from Touch Of Evil should had been in the top-3.

(Reply to this)
adobe4578
adobe4578 writes:
on Apr 09 2008 11:43 PM

Hank Quinlin from Touch Of Evil should had been in the top-3.

(Reply to this)
Bulletproof_Animal
Bulletproof_Animal writes:
on Apr 10 2008 12:34 AM

Josh Brolin in American Gangster. He shoots a dog.

(Reply to this)
herpeslove
herpeslove writes:
on Apr 10 2008 01:47 AM

oh? not a dog

(Reply to this)
RuinerxxSINCITY
RuinerxxSINCITY writes:
on Apr 10 2008 01:57 AM

While most the movies they picked were great choices, some of them like Unlawful Entry were not nearly as good as some they missed. For example Cop Land, and American Gangster deserved to be on there. However, all the movies listed here were very entertaining, they missed a few GREAT ones that should have been on there. Still everyone is entitled to their own opinions even the Rotten Tomatoes writers. lol! :)

(Reply to this)
Basilides in Alexandria
Basilides in Alexandria writes:
on Apr 10 2008 04:40 AM

Seth Rogen and Bill Hader in Superbad! Just kidding...

(Reply to this)
roskilla
roskilla writes:
on Apr 10 2008 04:41 AM

wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

(Reply to this)
andrew007
andrew007 writes:
on Apr 10 2008 04:58 AM

http://en.cinemawiki.tv/

Welcome to Cinemawiki.TV %u2014 open
multilingual encyclopedia of movies online
Here you can:

* Watch movies online
* Read opinions about the movies
* Leave your opinion

* Add new movie
* Add additional source of the movie
* Let us know about the broken movie



(Reply to this)
tomwaitsjr
tomwaitsjr writes:
on Apr 10 2008 05:03 AM

In reply to this comment (#1678757)
"I was expecting to see sherrif wydell from the devil's rejects in there, after all there aren't many cops that torture criminals, kill innocents and gratuitously insult groucho (I actually cringed at that moment) all in the same week! "

SPOILERS: In Coup de Torchon the cop, makes 2 pimps sing acapalla then shoots them both. Then he sets up another cop to look guilty by having him go to a brothel (Are there 13 year old girls? (The cop is thrilled))

He saws the floor of an outhouse so someone falls full into it.

He kills the husband of his mistress.

After an innocent person puts the body of the husband near the mistresses house, our favorite cop makes him go and bury the body. . . then kills the guy.

He sets up his wife and her boy-toy so his mistress will kill them both.

He stalks a new teacher, and writes on the school's black board some crazy lines and signs it "Jesus Christ."

Then it ends with him pointing his pistol at 3 boys playing in the sand. . .

All in less then a week. It's totally believable. . . words really don't do it justice, especially my meanderings.


(Reply to this)
tomwaitsjr
tomwaitsjr writes:
on Apr 10 2008 05:06 AM

Dear Andrew,

Suicide is always an option. The younger you are, the better chance you have of going to uber heaven. Regardless, you will go to heaven! I recommend you put piano wire around your neck and hook it up to a roof. Give it some room so around 40 feet from where you jump it'll take hold. Glue your hands to your head. Now, when people see you on the pavement, they'll just think you put your head off your body, like Legend of Sleepy Hollow! Then you'll be in heaven, with happy clowns and mimes that make you gummy bears. There is no more pain, and nothing resembling Uwe Boll. In fact, all memories of Uwe Boll will be taken from your memory.

Do it! Do it! Do it!
-------------------------------------


"I was expecting to see sherrif wydell from the devil's rejects in there, after all there aren't many cops that torture criminals, kill innocents and gratuitously insult groucho (I actually cringed at that moment) all in the same week! "

SPOILERS: In Coup de Torchon the cop, makes 2 pimps sing acapalla then shoots them both. Then he sets up another cop to look guilty by having him go to a brothel (Are there 13 year old girls? (The cop is thrilled))

He saws the floor of an outhouse so someone falls full into it.

He kills the husband of his mistress.

After an innocent person puts the body of the husband near the mistresses house, our favorite cop makes him go and bury the body. . . then kills the guy.

He sets up his wife and her boy-toy so his mistress will kill them both.

He stalks a new teacher, and writes on the school's black board some crazy lines and signs it "Jesus Christ."

Then it ends with him pointing his pistol at 3 boys playing in the sand. . .

All in less then a week. It's totally believable. . . words really don't do it justice, especially my meanderings.


(Reply to this)
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