Narc (2002)

That was an excellent one.

Simply Perfect

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

NARC is a decent if flawed movie, an on-the-street thriller full of grit and grime and bad language. It follows the simple yet popular formula of a normal cop being partnered with a bad cop, one who may or may not be a killer. The film feels raw and low budget, with plenty of bleak visuals to give it that realistic look. There are moments of style to keep viewers watching, from the breathless shaky-cam opening chase to a split-screen investigation where we need to follow four separate cameras.Plot-wise, it goes at a rather steady pace, as the twosome interrogate various weirdos (including a man who has his genitals set alight) and drug-pushers (gotta love Liotta pushing that bald guy's head through the wall). The last thirty minutes or so, which contains a double-twist and a violent showdown with the criminals (including the excellent Busta Rhymes), is a tour-de-force of powerhouse acting, with the OTT Liotta bellowing out expletives and the what not, turning in his typically intense style of acting. Jason Patric, so bad in SPEED 2, is actually decent here and holds his own as the introspective, jaded cop. A good little film, not a classic, but worth seeing.

Narc (2002): Dir: Joe Carnahan / Cast: Jason Patric, Ray Liotta, Chi McBride, Krista Bridges, Anne Openshaw: Compelling examination of law enforcement and manipulation. Jason Patric plays a cop who is under investigation after he shot a suspect to save a little girl yet injured a pregnant woman. He is reassigned with Ray Liotta to investigate a cop killing. It may remind viewers of similar films such as The French Connection, The Fugitive and Serpico. Detailed and surprising screenplay right up to its final moments where truths are realized. Director Joe Carahan presents realism and an effective point of view chase sequence during the film's opening. Patric is flawless as a cop previously under the influence of drugs but now has a wife and child. Liotta is at his best as a cop sadistic in his methods of interrogation. He has a bad reputation but we learn why he is as such. Where the film goes wrong is its standard supporting roles that threaten the screenplay with formula elements. Chi McBride plays the Chief whose function is to bark orders. Krista Bridges plays Patric's wife who spends the entire film complaining about his job and the fact that he is never around. Then she leaves him, which seems to solve nothing. Anne Openshaw plays the widow of a victim who is more or less sheltered by corruption. Theme regards inner demons plaguing the mind. Score: 9 / 10

I think the most important things have been already said regarding this movie and especially it's actors.It should be added, that one thing which very much differs from other films is the huge amount of realism. Regarding cops and police aggression, there are rarely films made in the US who truly show the true character of our everyday best friend. Other than that of course, the acting is immense, but even one thing betters it in my opinion: the soundtrack. Cliff Martinez to name the artist, is responsible for it, absolutely breath taking music! I can recommend anyone to listen to the soundtrack on Youtube or even better buy Cliff Martinez' works. It's worth the money!

This movie was as good as I expected it to be. It was raw, nasty and just violent enough. Both Patric and Liotta were totally immersed in their characters and it was directed impeccably. The fighting and shootouts were realistic (although the blood looked a little fake) and there wasn't one bad actor to speak of.The only problem I have is with a hole in the plot. If Oak is so concerned with Calvess' widow receiving his pension, why would he care that Cheevers wanted to pin his death on Eugene Sheps? It would have solved that problem. And he could still get his revenge on Love and Steeds later by killing them, which he came within an inch of anyway. The concept that Oak felt that Love and Steeds were responsible for Calvess' addiction and would only accept their wrongful conviction of his murder as suitable revenge is a little bit of a stretch.