Jean Paul Belmondo stars in the action-comedy Cop or Hood. New to Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Jean Paul Belmondo, or as most of his fans know him, as simple Belmondo, was the oddest of French movie stars. Belmondo was more of an American Star of the era. Brash, charming, in violent action films with big stunts. Though unlike American Stars of the era, unapologetically funny and goofy in some cases (see his masterful work in the genius Magnifique). Cop or Hood shows Belmondo in that perfect mixture, charming, roguish man of action, taking down the bad guys with a wry wink and smile.
Cerutti (Belmondo) is more than he appears to be. Putting himself in the middle of a crime that has ties to police corruption, crime syndicates, and politicians, one would think he’s looking for a payout. There is more to Cerutti’s endgame than meets the eye as the man attempts to manage the corruption, criminals, his lover, and a pesky teenage daughter not entirely successfully all at once. Though with that wry charm and deadly aim, Cerutti always seems to land on top of the situation.
Cop or Hood is a standard police procedural that’s told with a flair and style that elevates it beyond the standard issue from this genre. Adding in Belmondo’s truly wonderful performance as the rakish, almost Yojimbo-esque figure at the center of the film, and the cleanly executed action set pieces, you get a picture that’s all around a delight.
The Transfer
The all-new 2K Restoration is an excellently sourced transfer of the Henri Decaë-photographed film. There isn’t a scratch or blemish throughout the runtime of the film. The clean, sharp image’s colors pop in this French action comedy. This is another winning French genre film from Kino Lorber.
The Extras
They include the following;
- NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
- Theatrical Trailer
The all-new Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson opens the fact that Cop or Hood is a very prototypical Belmondo star vehicle of the era. Some of the details include the huge success in France, but it got little to no distribution elsewhere; the work of director George Lautner, both here and throughout his career; the reasons why some of these action comedies from Belmondo did not get distribution outside of France at the time; a discussion of the great action scenes through the 1970s that Belmondo took part in his films – and the comp that he was the Tom Cruise of his era as he did his own stunts; a discussion of the screenplay written by Michel Audiard and Jean Herman; a discussion of some of the cultural norms and the dialogue that may be lost on American audiences; a discussion of the various actors that appear in the film; a larger discussion of the various action scenes and stunt work by Belmondo; and much more. The trio provides another truly entertaining and informative track for a winning Belmondo action film.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Cop or Hood (2:50); Le Doulos (2:25); Ho! (3:46); The Body of My Enemy (4:29); The Hunter Will Get You (2:28); Le Professionnel (2:12); The Outsider (2:43); Half a Chance (2:17);
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber continues their curation of great French Genre films with Cop of Hood. Recommended!!!