''Third World Cop'' is a 1999 Jamaican action crime film directed by Chris Browne and starring Paul Campbell. It was produced by

Chris Blackwell Christopher Percy Gordon Blackwell OJ (born 22 June 1937) is a Jamaican-British former record producer and the founder of Island Records, which has been called "one of Britain's great independent labels". According to the Rock and Roll Hall ...

of Island Jamaica Films. It became the highest-grossing Jamaican film.

Plot

After his partner is gunned down by local criminals, undercover policeman Capone (Paul Campbell) is reassigned to crime-infested

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

, Jamaica. With his new partner Floyd (Winston Bell), Capone is tasked with patrolling the streets of his hometown Dungle. On his first day there, Capone infiltrates an

arms trafficking Arms trafficking or gunrunning is the illicit trade of contraband small arms, explosives, and ammunition, which constitutes part of a broad range of illegal activities often associated with transnational criminal organizations. The illegal tra ...

ring with ties to the local Latter Day Saints Church of Christ; a shootout ensues and Capone kills three smugglers. While pursuing several leads, he reunites with his childhood friends, particularly producer Ratty (Mark Danvers) and old flame Rita (Audrey Reid). Unbeknownst to Capone, Ratty is involved in the arms trafficking. Ratty invites Capone to the club, where he is introduced to Ratty's one-handed boss Wonie (Carl Bradshaw) and chances upon a couple of smugglers; he sneaks into their car and discovers that the gang is using several more churches as fronts. Capone pays Ratty a house visit and inadvertently discovers evidence of his involvement in crime. Initially feigning ignorance, Capone subsequently warns Ratty to be careful. Later on, Capone and Floyd raid a warehouse used by Wonie's gang. Capone fatally shoots a childhood acquaintance who was also in Wonie's employ, but Ratty and the other gang members manage to flee. On the pretext of his possessing

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae that is widely accepted as being indigenous to and originating from the continent of Asia. However, the number of species is disputed, with as many as three species be ...

, Wonie is brought into questioning but Capone begrudgingly releases him after he is unable to find any evidence regarding his arms trafficking on his laptop. The police superintendent informs Capone that mercenaries Not Nice (Lenford Salmon) and Deportee (Desmond Ballentine) have also been enlisted to take down the gang, although they will work independently from Capone. Dressed as a drag queen, Capone tracks down Ratty, who has since gone into hiding, and persuades him to testify against Wonie. Wonie learns of Capone's plan and ambushes Floyd and him while they are on the road with Ratty. Capone takes down Wonie's henchmen, while Floyd apprehends the ringleader. In the midst of the confusion, Ratty, fearful of the repercussions for snitching, burns his testimony. Ratty makes a desperate attempt to shoot Capone but is killed by him instead; a wistful Capone mourns for his onetime friend and solemnly walks away.

Cast

* Paul Campbell as Capone * Mark Danvers as Ratty * Carl Bradshaw as Wonie * Audrey Reid as Rita * Winston Bell as Floyd * Lenford Salmon as Not Nice * Desmond Ballentine (aka Ninjaman) as Deportee

Music

Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

'' described the film's soundtrack as an "engaging mix of

reggae Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...

and hip-hop-influenced

dance hall Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for Dance, dancing, but usually refers to a specific type of twentieth-century venue, with dance clubs (nightclubs) becoming more popular towards the end of the century. The palais de danse was a term ap ...

"; the film features a cover of

Junior Marvin Junior Marvin (born Donald Hanson Marvin Kerr Richards Jr., June 22, 1949), also known as Junior Marvin-Hanson, Junior Hanson, Junior Kerr, and Julian Junior Marvin, is a Jamaican-born guitarist and singer best known for his association with B ...

" Police and Thieves" by reggae artist Luciano as well as music by dancehall performers Beenie Man, Innocent Crew, and Lady G, among others. The 13-title soundtrack album was produced by drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robert Shakespeare.

Release

''Third World Cop'' ran for twelve weeks in Jamaican cinemas. It was released in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

on 28 February 2000 and in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

on 21 April 2000.

Reception

''Third World Cop'' was a commercial success, breaking the box office records held by '' Home Alone 2'' and '' Dancehall Queen'' in Jamaica. It became the highest-grossing Jamaican film ever with J$21 million in the local box office.

A. O. Scott Anthony Oliver Scott (born July 10, 1966) is an American journalist and cultural critic, known for his film and literary criticism. After starting his career at ''The New York Review of Books'', '' Variety'', and ''Slate'', he began writing film ...

remarked that "true idiom (of ''Third World Cop'') is the universal language of cop-movie cliche". ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' reviewer Kenneth Turan described the plot as "old-fashioned" and a "genial case of gangster meets gangsta on the streets of Jamaica", but added that the film offered "an absorbing glimpse into the poorest, most dangerous parts of

". In a review for ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'', Peter Bradshaw wrote that the film had "undeniable brio, brashness and style", while also pointing out its "rough-and-ready plot from a familiar template".

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, 0179063, Third World Cop 1999 films Jamaican drama films 1999 crime films Films set in Jamaica