Cold Copy (2023) User Reviews

Story wasn't bad, but...

[bk753 · 6/10 · 4 June 2024]

...the characters and acting weren't good

The film delves into to competitive world of journalism, following a (seemingly) sweet and timid grad student as she pursues her dreams, and gets accepted into a class taught by an "alpha dog" of current events news, a forceful anchor of a "Hard Copy" type show. We come to learn that our timid lead is not a shrinking violet at all, but a little cutthroat who will do anything to be seen and heard by her professor. There's the makings of a good story here, and while it is somewhat explored in the 90 minute runtime, it has gaps and holes that make it less than believable.

Neither of the two lead female characters... are terribly appealing, and the actors playing them seemed stiff and fake. Our student (Mia) is portrayed as too fearful to become the wretch she turns into (almost overnight), and the professor/anchor is an almost non-human caricature of vindictive success. 16 year old Igor (Jason Trembley) does better as the subject of Mia's story... I wish they'd have done more with wrapping his storyline... would love to know what happens next for him. We're teased, but then no.

With a tighter story, and better characters, this could've been an improved film. Instead it becomes (pun intended) "nothing to write home about." Meh.

Cold hard lies.

[deleyshaun · 6/10 · 4 June 2024]

Cold Copy tells the story of mousey try- hard journo student Mia ( Powley) who is desperate to succeed and impress her hard nosed teacher/ mentor ( Ellis-Ross). A chance encounter with a 15 year old boy gives Mia the chance to come up with something juicy- but she will have to lie and edit the truth to make it happen. The film is quite tense as you sense the desperation in Mia. It also dissects the morals of journalism- starting out with the pursuit of truth v "what it takes" to get a story. The film does have some holes that is not addressed - such as the backlash from the falsity of the story. Stay patient till the very end as there is a final " punch in the gut" that is both satisfying and fitting to the idea of " whatever the cost" Whether you will be engaged completely to see out the ending will be subjective. Some have criticised the performances but I thought Powley was pretty convincing. Definitely worth your time.

Mediocre dramatic thriller lacking tension and leaving too many untied loose ends

[danieljfarthing · 5/10 · 12 March 2024]

In dramatic thriller "Cold Copy" journalism student Bel Powley (strong rising star) scratches a place in the class of her idol Tracee Ellis Ross (slightly over the top) - a hard-hitting interviewer at the height of her game & fame. To stay, learn & thrive tho, Powley must take tough advice, especially on the story she's on about her teen 'friend' Jacob Tremblay (meh) whose famous author mum died some years earlier. It follows a predictable path, but with little tension and scant twistiness, ending somewhat satisfyingly yet still with many loose ends untied. Debut writer / director Roxine Helberg aimed for a "Wall Street"-lite... and just about made it... albeit VERY litely. Mediocre.

Boring

[deloudelouvain · 5/10 · 16 April 2024]

Cold Copy is categorised as a crime/thriller/mystery but in my opinion it's just a drama, not even a good one. Watching this was like when you start reading a book and after hundred pages you start to realize that this is going nowhere, but you started the book, so you want to finish it, in case it got better but you have no high hopes. This movie is the same, the story is weak but you hope it will get better. I found everything very predictable so no mystery for me, nor any thrilling. Maybe a crime if you could call that a crime, it's more infantile behaviour. Writer/director Roxine Helberg didn't convince me. I watched Cold Copy because of Jacob Tremblay, that shined in Doctor Sleep and Room. He also played the young Tandy in the excellent comedy series The Last Man On Earth. He wasn't bad in Cold Copy, the story was just boring to watch. The other characters were annoying to watch. Time waster in my humble opinion.

The story is stronger than the characters

[ListenToChris · 7/10 · 3 March 2024]

When we first decided to watch this it had a score of 7.0 and no reviews, and indeed not much information about it at all. The trailer looked ok though. By the time we did watch, a week or two later, the score had dropped to 5.8.

The characters of Mia and Diane aren't all that believable, but the story is quite strong and moves along pretty well. It's all about how far Mia is prepared go down Diane's recommended approach that the story is more important than the truth, because what's truth anyway. Enjoyed it for sure.

There's also quite a strong ending, which is a solid achievement because a lot of movies just sort of fade away at the end. Good work.

Ego trip journalist

[ThatDoesntMatter · 21 March 2024]

A totally naive and insecure student adores this TV host / professor.

That sentence alone should disqualify her.

Or be used for a different kind of movie.

Journalism is stories, just like everything else in life.

But most of all, surprise surprise, journalism is a business, it is stories used to sell ads, twisted stories, one-sided stories, tabloid stories, propaganda stories, fantasy stories. Who knew. Cui bono.

In today's woke world, how is that btchy professor even a thing?

And why would I care for an egotistical jealous criminal student with no morals? Cry me a river your 'story' got 'stolen', learn your lesson: read the fine print before you sign something. 'I'm so special' - glad that bubble got burst quickly.

If this is supposed to be a character study it failed. Nothing new to be gained here. Not even truth, whatever that elusive, many-facetted thing may be . Only a shadow of yesteryear's news. That hammam monologue was so Hollywood it hurt.

The ending is not redemptive, it's more cliché and more ego trip and predictable, totally unconvincing and not satisfying. Any second grade editing proofcheck would show that the recording was fake. But who cares, as everything is. That's the message, then. As I said, surprise surprise, yesteryear's news.

The kid was great, and the roommate was good as well. A glimpse of reality. The rest was yawn.

Jacob Tremblay is the most interesting part

[jluthier666 · 7/10 · 19 March 2024]

The movie is quite interesting for a directorial debut. The third act was quite rushed since there are a lot of things that was seemingly skipped between Mia and Igor.

Despite not getting to show full potential, Jacob Tremblay made another great performance. His character Igor has a pure heart and you just want to fill the void he has living mostly alone.

Mia is like Thanos in her own movie. When you see how much lines she cross, you will know how journalistic integrity start to not exist anymore in this movie.

If ever there is a director's cut for this movie, I'm expecting more Jacob scenes as his final scene could have had a heavier impact. But overall, the movie was good enough, and of course Jacob's performance was great!

"COLD COPY" REVIEW

[Mr-Topshotta · 7/10 · 24 March 2024]

Directed and written by Roxine Helberg. A runtime of one hour and thirty-six minutes. To rent or buy on Prime Video with an R rating.

"Mia Scott," played by Bel Powley, is an ambitious journalism student. "Mia" and her roommate/friend "Kim," played by Nesta Cooper, are both students of their esteemed professor, "Diane Heger," played by Tracee Ellis Ross.

"Diane" is not only a professor but a popular cutthroat reporter with her segment on a popular news show. She is harsh and to the point. SB(Side Bar) I love seeing Tracee in an antagonist role.

"Diane" provides an AP journalist class, which "Kim" and "Mia" both attend. The single focus is to provide a story with legs. If the story is good, it will be picked, and you have the potential to work with "Diane" on her show.

By chance "Mia" encounters "Igor Nowak" played by Jacob Tremblay. He has an interesting past that "Mia" can relate to. She decides to tell a story about him with her ulterior motives.

You watch as "Mia" dives down the rabbit hole and does integrity-less things for this story. What won't she do in an attempt to impress her highly critical teacher?

"Cold Copy" was Roxine Helberg's directorial debut. Which wasn't bad since she wrote it as well. Seasoned filmmakers have a hard time doing that, let alone someone in their first major film.

Tracee Ellis Ross played her character effortlessly, giving a spotless performance. She carried the film. Without her performance, this film would have probably been rated lower.

I couldn't stand the Bel Powley character.

Earlier on "Mia," subject Jacob Tremblay's character "Igor" told her this isn't for you. That was a fact. "Mia" was vindictive. You have to have the drive and willingness to go further than the next person. She wasn't competitive; she was just jealous. What drove her came from all the wrong emotions.

If you have to backstab your allies and friends just to get a little bit further, what's the point? You have to have some morals. It's too early in the game to be burning bridges to the bottom of the water. It's hard enough fighting enemies; you don't want to make enemies out of people who know you and can hurt you worse than any real enemy.

Speaking of having issues with morals and ethics, Let's add another word, "optics.". "Diane" was a hard ass and mean for most of the film. But they explained why. She was poor. "Diane" scratched and clawed to get to where she is now. She saw that spark in "Mia" and pushed her.

"Mia," on the other hand, is spoiled. If she doesn't like something, she will sabotage it to get her way. No one can stand in her way because she's mentally weak. She's giving a lot of "Karen" energy. I liked the realism approach, but then it took a turn and clashed with two different points of view. Film-wise, it gave intriguing points, but at what cost? Some of the turns it took made me dislike the film.

Overall, the film held my attention, and whether I agreed with "MiA" or how Roxine Helberg made this film, the final product was solid. Casting was pivotal in this film. Having a seasoned actor allowed this film to flourish and go further than it would have, in my opinion. This is why I give this film four mor stars🔥🔥🔥🔥.

#CosmoandtheMovieWithin #CosmoMovieBlog #CosmoLanier #ColdCopy.

Much better than I expected.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 8/10 · 10 March 2024]

Journalism student Mia Scott is desperate to impress the hard nosed, but influential journalist Diane Heger, even if it means breaking the rules to land the perfect story.

It has a made for TV feel to it, so don't expect slick production values or a film full of A-listers, but do expect a good story, and some very competent acting.

The story is quite a good one, and it will hold your attention from the start, unlike many similar films it does actually end quite well, an unexpected climax, it becomes a story of revenge. A few poignant scenes throughout, Mia opening up about her past, very good.

Heger truly is a monster, but an interesting villain, Tracee Ellis Ross is excellent, but Bel Powley steals thr show, she's great, and acted as producer.

8/10.

Actually kept me wondering what would happen next

[bornagainmel · 8/10 · 9 March 2024]

I loved Tracee Ellis Ross in this! Aside from looking captivating, I couldn't hate her even though I should. The storyline was great! And, although I disliked the lead's character and actions, she played her part well, and kept me wondering what would happen next! The film displays the reality of the extent someone who needs life validation would go to get ahead or to stifle someone else's success. We've all come across a character like the lead, where even in her facial expressions, she can't hide her evident misery at another's progress. It's cringe, but I love that it shows what goes around comes eventually around. I liked how the movie ended. With all the junk movies out there, this one was a worthy watch!

Cold Copy & Cold Hearted

[keyskiara · 8/10 · 1 June 2024]

This is a "dog eats dog" type of movie in every sense of the term and the end you really end up hating the main dog.

Mia (Prowley) seems like a very sweet girl who wants to be a very great journalist, and when she gets into a journalism class whose professor (Ellis-Ross) IS a very great journalist, Mia seems to turn against her morality, her friendships, and even yet expectedly her subject.

She reported her friend/roomates co-worker, got her kicked out of the class, and THEN stole her job because deep down Mia did not have what it takes to be a good journalist. And just when she was actively doing what journalists do to get the stories and get where they want to be - she still realized that she didn't have what it takes.

Because when the classic villain pulled a classic villain move, the new villain isn't skilled enough to not have them flip back onto her - until she is.

Tracee Ellis-Ross's monologue at the end proved why she was always going to be the top dog in this movie. Even with the way it all ended.

This movie was excellent and better than I truly thought it was going to be.

8.5/10.

This will leave you cold

[Boristhemoggy · 8/10 · 29 February 2024]

An ambitious journalism student falls under the thrall of an esteemed yet cutthroat news reporter whom she's desperate to impress, even if it means manipulating her latest story - and the very idea of truth itself.

I didn't much fancy the title, i kind of expected how the plot would go, but Bel Powley is so watchable I had to watch the entire film. It's really at heart an ethical exploration, and a revenge film. Both parts done exceptionally well.

Tracee Ellis Ross Plays Diane Heger and is the journalist we all love to hate. The one that cares nothing for people, only about stories. The kind of people who may bring us the truth such as The Nixon Tapes, or destroy lives by making public something which did not need to be public. Love her? Hate her? Maybe a bit of both because she feeds both sides of our souls. And Ellis Ross plays the part excellently.

Powley dominates the film though, as a new student, just learning the ropes, and being awe struck by Heger, but also hating her for treading on her toes and stealing her story. She plays her master revenge simply but perfectly but while I was joyous and applauding her for her creative bringing down of Heger, I also was struck that Powley's character Mia Scott had acted inappropriately with a teen, and lied and deceived him to get the story that was stolen from her.

It's natural to be on Scott's side as she hit back at what seemed to be a monstrous lady. And yet Scott proved she herself had no morals or ethics in getting the story in the first place. Who do we root for? Who do we congratulate? It's a difficult question and it's an excellent film.