Didn't expect much but really enjoyed this. Its more all about people and really there is little action for a police film.
It tells the story of a new cop's first night shift on the job with a senior officer whose first day it is as a training officer. The story develops and there is more to it than just a night shift.
Apart from a little bit in the middle, the film keeps your attention. Most of the action you see from or around the Crown Vic. Some of the action happens off camera as it happens away from the Crown Vic. You also see the arrest and then they are back on patrol.
It is very well acted and written. There are some things didn't like. There is 10min in the middle where it gets very dull. I am not sure the timeline works. I do not know about US police but don't they have to book in prisoners and process them? The timeline seemed to have them arrest, take the prisoner back, book them in, process them and back in the car in minutes. The ending is also very arupt.
Apart from this it is a good character driven film. There is little action so I wouldn't watch it expecting an action cop film.
136 Reviews
Better Than I Expected
lwmswm4 April 2021
Acting, writing, cinematography, directing: all better than I expected. Ridiculous if you know anything about actual police procedure but like a lot of shows it is quite entertaining in an intense sort of way if you put your critical thinking in a drawer before you watch it. I didn't feel like turning it off after the first 20 minutes and it held up until the end.
Thomas Jane was great
Draysan-Jennings18 November 2019
A very good surprise !
OZ19713 April 2021
THOMAS JANE GIVES ONE HELL OF AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
lukem-5276027 October 2020
Bulletproof as it's known here in England is a decent cop drama crafted similar to Denzel Washington's Trains Day but this is set over one night for our two LAPD officers played by Thomas Jane as the older grizzled Ray & his new fresh rookie played by Luke Kleintank, both gove excellent strong performances here in this gritty & very dark Cop drama.
Thomas Jane is a favourite of mine, an actor I've liked since 1999's Shark Thriller Deep Blue Sea & he's usually really good in stuff such as the 2000's The Punisher, I'm a huge fan of that film, among other films Jane is often great & steals the show as he did with The Predator!!! I liked him recently in the Wilderness Killer Bear Thriller, In To The Grizzly Maze but hated his weird Werewolf Horror Hunters Moon, it's often like most actors hit & miss with his work especially since alot are DTV low-budget B-movies but here in Bulletproof he gives one of his best performances as a veteran street cop of over 25 years & he's worn down by all the Horror he sees every night but within his squad car he feels safe from the evil out there & Jane gives such a great performance in playing this hard edged, grizzled & aware guy & even slips into vigilante territory & he's right to do so, i agree with his actions in this film as the police can only do so much!!!!
Just go into this dark cop drama not knowing too much about it & just watch their crazy night of danger unfold, it's a dark & gritty ride with two strong leads & some very dark & emotional stuff mixed into the cop action. A decent well made film but it's no Masterpiece just a good watch.
Thomas Jane is a favourite of mine, an actor I've liked since 1999's Shark Thriller Deep Blue Sea & he's usually really good in stuff such as the 2000's The Punisher, I'm a huge fan of that film, among other films Jane is often great & steals the show as he did with The Predator!!! I liked him recently in the Wilderness Killer Bear Thriller, In To The Grizzly Maze but hated his weird Werewolf Horror Hunters Moon, it's often like most actors hit & miss with his work especially since alot are DTV low-budget B-movies but here in Bulletproof he gives one of his best performances as a veteran street cop of over 25 years & he's worn down by all the Horror he sees every night but within his squad car he feels safe from the evil out there & Jane gives such a great performance in playing this hard edged, grizzled & aware guy & even slips into vigilante territory & he's right to do so, i agree with his actions in this film as the police can only do so much!!!!
Just go into this dark cop drama not knowing too much about it & just watch their crazy night of danger unfold, it's a dark & gritty ride with two strong leads & some very dark & emotional stuff mixed into the cop action. A decent well made film but it's no Masterpiece just a good watch.
Not exactly "Training Day", but pretty decent
cannaganjabisweed16 November 2019
So I don't like movies that promote big daddy government and always paint the cops as the good guys, because the truth is often different. I like movies like Training Day and End of Watch, which are both excellent examples of this genre.
Crown Vic is pretty good. The cinematography is top notch. The acting from Thomas Jane deserves a lot of credit and he is a very underrated actor. The acting from others is passable. If anything I would say some of the characters are overexaggerated, which wasn't necessary in my opinion. The story itself is pretty mediocre.
I like the movie anyway for what it is, and this kind of genre always seems to write itself. I put it outside the overdone "buddy cop" genre, but I wouldn't know what to call it.
Crown Vic is pretty good. The cinematography is top notch. The acting from Thomas Jane deserves a lot of credit and he is a very underrated actor. The acting from others is passable. If anything I would say some of the characters are overexaggerated, which wasn't necessary in my opinion. The story itself is pretty mediocre.
I like the movie anyway for what it is, and this kind of genre always seems to write itself. I put it outside the overdone "buddy cop" genre, but I wouldn't know what to call it.
Training Night
athena242 October 2020
Crown Vic is a low budget cop movie. And this really detracts from it being better. This feeling of "cheapness' presents through the whole movie, even when contrasted by well done scenes and acting.
The feeling of 'cheapness' starts from the very first frame of the robber (which reminded me of the beginning of 'The Fury of a Patient Man'). The low people on set - especially in the streets which seem too desolate (well maybe except COVID-19 time) though I'm not from the U.S. Another thing is that sometimes you see mistakes, like crew reflected through glass, or few non-extra people walking peacefully in a scene of police activity.
The acting is good from both leads. At the beginning I though that Thomas Jane was overacting, but this feeling dispelled after 15 minutes, and I was absorbed with the plot and their conversation. Very good job.
The plot is nice, and it seems they tried to create an authentic feeling of police routine work (for example they constantly used police codes for felonies). And it certainly looked more realistic then Training Day, though it doesn't mean it's more entertaining. As Mark Twain put it: "Never Let The Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story."
The feeling of 'cheapness' starts from the very first frame of the robber (which reminded me of the beginning of 'The Fury of a Patient Man'). The low people on set - especially in the streets which seem too desolate (well maybe except COVID-19 time) though I'm not from the U.S. Another thing is that sometimes you see mistakes, like crew reflected through glass, or few non-extra people walking peacefully in a scene of police activity.
The acting is good from both leads. At the beginning I though that Thomas Jane was overacting, but this feeling dispelled after 15 minutes, and I was absorbed with the plot and their conversation. Very good job.
The plot is nice, and it seems they tried to create an authentic feeling of police routine work (for example they constantly used police codes for felonies). And it certainly looked more realistic then Training Day, though it doesn't mean it's more entertaining. As Mark Twain put it: "Never Let The Truth Get in the Way of a Good Story."
End justify the means
kosmasp18 February 2021
It is a question some ask and will be asking in connection to this movie. Overall but also in certain situations. Being a police man/woman is not the easiest job. It's a fine line being tough while also compassionate. That's why I think that people have to be thoroughly trained to become a member of the force. We go on a journey and maybe while we are on it, some things will become clearer ... or even more difficult to diffuse.
While this is not Training Day by any stretch of the imagination, it still is an effective cop movie. Depending on what you think of them, this may cement those feelings or make you reconsider a few things. I doubt though it will give you a lot of food for thought, even if it sort of aims at this. Especially with the way it ends ...
While this is not Training Day by any stretch of the imagination, it still is an effective cop movie. Depending on what you think of them, this may cement those feelings or make you reconsider a few things. I doubt though it will give you a lot of food for thought, even if it sort of aims at this. Especially with the way it ends ...
Jane kills it
A_Different_Drummer12 December 2020
When the film historians of the future close the lid on this period, they will conclude that Tom Jane did not do enough movies. He carries this production to the finish line and holds the audience every step of the way. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Enjoyable cop movie.
deloudelouvain23 January 2021
Crown Vic is a well made cop movie with no spectacular action scenes, but with enough good story material to make it an enjoyable movie to watch. It's an American cop movie, so there's a fair amount of scenes where the cops think they're above the law, exactly what I think about when I think about the American police forces. But not all cops are crooks and cowboys, some are integer and try to do their job, to serve and protect. Unfortunately there are a lot of rotten apples and so is it also in Crown Vic. The rookie trying to learn as much as possible on his first day will be conflicted with hard choices he has to make, and that's the best part of the movie. Thomas Jane and Luke Kleintank, play the main characters, and they did it very good. The rest of the cast is also enjoyable to watch. Give it a try if you like this genre of movies.
Protect and Serve (Crown Vic) - Rough Going
krocheav8 November 2021
If you're looking for a movie to convince you not to be an American policeman this is it. Unrelentingly downbeat all the way, this cynical ultra vicious movie continually goes for the worst in humanity - from a manic rogue cop (easily the worst possible example) to the drug destroyed wife of an ex-cop, to a little girl being held from her family for untold purposes, and rampaging cop killers, shooting up any that come their way, etc, etc, (all in a nights work) While it may give us a look into the dregs of society - it wallows in its negativity, failing to offer its audience any glimmer of hope (no wonder they stayed away)
Performances are all good and the contrast between the young rookie and grizzled vet works most of the time but with an unrelenting barrage of hopelessness - wrapped up in a script by writer/director (Joel Souza) who unfortunately, seems incapable of stringing sentences together without every other word being a vulgarity. While so-called 'trendy' Hollywood types might speak like this it also assures it becomes tiresome for many others.
At least it has a pounding, moody soundtrack. In the seventies, films like 'The New Centurions' served this theme with some reasonable justice, and even though times have certainly changed, it's doubtful the changes have been as blatantly radical as we are being bludgeoned with here.
Performances are all good and the contrast between the young rookie and grizzled vet works most of the time but with an unrelenting barrage of hopelessness - wrapped up in a script by writer/director (Joel Souza) who unfortunately, seems incapable of stringing sentences together without every other word being a vulgarity. While so-called 'trendy' Hollywood types might speak like this it also assures it becomes tiresome for many others.
At least it has a pounding, moody soundtrack. In the seventies, films like 'The New Centurions' served this theme with some reasonable justice, and even though times have certainly changed, it's doubtful the changes have been as blatantly radical as we are being bludgeoned with here.
Long time since I enjoyed a cop movie
mymilacek17 November 2019
Well done cop movie which I manage to watch with fingers crossed until the end.
Good actors and apart from few prolonged scenes which don't bring much value it's a summary of most likely underpaid professional work.
More drama then action, a lot of crime, great performances
samisezin27 July 2021
I did not recognize Thomas Jane, not one of his usual roles, great performance by him. Deep drama, a lot of moral dilemmas streetcops can encounter. Sometimes a bit uneasy to justify their choices. There is action and crime in it, but it is supporting to the drama. Do not expect a high energy action movie, but if you take the time and go with the pace of this movie you will like it.
Training day and the shield in a low mix for a pro police film.
nouyrigatantoine14 March 2021
A film that smacks of pro-police advocacy justifying their abuses by the daily violence they suffer, and therefore simplistic and simplifying. The directing and the staging is not bad, nor exceptional and the scenario in addition to being politically partisan is already seen and without interest. I struggled to follow this day of patrol with these stereotypical characters, of the old-fashioned cop (who, like "the shield", does justice to himself and feebly tries to moderate his abusive colleagues) and the new naive and amateur wanting respect the main principles of the badge.
Frankly not my cup of tea.
Edgy. One Of The Best Films of 2019. A More Realistic Version Of 'Crash' (2004).
Real_Review28 May 2020
If you are interested in a character-driven police drama, packed with realism and authentic location shooting, then consider 'Crown Vic' (2019). This film got little attention, but the acting is top-notch and the pacing will keep your attention throughout. A great film.
RealReview Posting Scoring Criteria: Acting: 1/1; Casting: 1/1; Directing: 1/1; Story: 1/1; Writing/Screenplay: 1/1;
Total Base Score = 5
Modifiers (+ or -):
Authentic Location Shooting: +1 ( Los Angeles );
Believability/Consistency: +1;
Total RealReview Rating: 7
RealReview Posting Scoring Criteria: Acting: 1/1; Casting: 1/1; Directing: 1/1; Story: 1/1; Writing/Screenplay: 1/1;
Total Base Score = 5
Modifiers (+ or -):
Authentic Location Shooting: +1 ( Los Angeles );
Believability/Consistency: +1;
Total RealReview Rating: 7
Good Cop Thriller
danielcereto31 March 2020
It is difficult to make original cop movies nowadays. So, Crown Vic is not original but in some ways is great.
First, I really love movie's pace. It's only one night but what a night. Pretty well shot.
Second, the acting of both main roles is pretty good also the secondary actors. No overacting.
And last, the script it is the weak part because with a little more risky one, this movie could have been a masterpiece.
So, overall a good cop thriller but not excellent.
Police don't improve Crown Vics anymore
DebraIonaVogel24 March 2021
Cops drive Ford Explorers in California. Even way back in 2019. My son has a Crown Vic, the reason I'm watching this at all. The actors do a very decent job in this full of cliches script with cookie cutter characters in a lazily written story. I watched it through until the end. There's that...
Best cop movie since end of watch in my opinion!!
taylorcolecooper16 November 2019
A bit overdone
elgrampo7720 October 2020
Nothing special
Zedyeti17 March 2021
If this movie is randomly on cable, yeah give it a go but don't expect much. A very forgettable film. It took me three nights to finish it as I kept falling asleep. It has some good moments but has a cheap rushed feel to it and some terrible unbelievable dialogue that ruins it. People keep comparing it to training day which is dumb but so is this movie.
Do NOT pay any attention to low reviews!
steve-marcus2616 November 2019
Cops and their supporters will like it
Portaltech7829 June 2020
I think it was slow at the beginning and got somewhat better. The Veteran cop looks like Paul Newman in Fort Apache the Bronx a little.
Anyway Police and their supporters will love this, but still won't understand you need to take a stand and call out what's right and wrong, Serpico comes to mind.
Very boring
hutashankaushik1 August 2021
Poor Man's "Training Day"
redrobin62-321-2073115 December 2019
You can almost call "Crown Vic" "Training Day II - The Sequel" because the stories are so similar - rookie cop obsessed with his home life during one night on "The Most Perilous Job in America." I take my hat off to the folks who put their life on the line to protect and serve, especially in districts like LA where death is always seconds away. I was hoping that "Crown Vic" had a story/plot. It didn't. It was merely one incident after the next, sort of like a 90 minute version of COPS. Yes, "Training Day" is the better film; still, I think it's worth watching for those, like me, into police dramas.
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