Narc (2002)

That was an excellent one.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

An overlooked gritty realistic police drama. Phenomenal acting with stylistic violence all wrapped up in a package that daringly blurs the line of right and wrong in regards to law enforcement. An engrossing thriller that keeps your eyes glued to the screen. Unique and engrossing visual style helps to escalate it even more.

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.

Why are some good cop films overtly successful and talked about, whereas some good cop films are forgotten too early? Narc has garnered critical acclaim. It also managed to approximately double it's meager 6.5 million budget. So it is a success, and a pretty decent one. However, I think it should have gained a lot more recognition. Moreover, it should be remembered overtime, just as films like se7en(1995) and Serpico(1973) have. It is a very thorough film, it should be ranked among one of the top in the cop film genre. Ray Liotta and Jason Patrick team up as cops who look to investigate the murder of a fellow undercover cop working in the narcotics department. Hence, as they set on course to investigate, the gritty reality of the drugs arena and the internal corruption in the police department come to surface. Narc is an ideal cop film. It has everything. Fast pace, powerful performances, twists, mystery, edge of seat stuff. From the first frame, the pace of the film is set up. The first scene is the gloomy but edgy chase sequence as Jason Patrick runs breathlessly after a junkie. It is dark and intense. Also, the characters come with their own weaknesses. They are not the typical 'macho' cops. They are struggling with their internal demons throughout their journey into the underbelly. Not only that, they don't get along very well with each other. All of the subplots and backstories of the two protagonists have been connected to the focal plot of the film. All the loose ends have been tied up, hence no loopholes in a somewhat layered plot. All these traits make this an entertaining film. But what makes this film compete with classics is the fact that it is not only entertaining, but it also exposes the grit and dirt. The corruption in the police department and the frailty of those working in the narcotics department is portrayed heavily in the film. So no matter how hard one tries, there is nothing lacking or weak in the film that can be pointed out. It stays true to the genre, it doesn't even try to be anything else, just an outstanding cop film. Ray Liotta and Jason Patrick deliver strong performances. Snappy and dark cinematography match the genre's requirements. It also gives it a "noir" feel. Joe Carnahan's direction is spot on. Much like Ben Affleck's Gone Baby Gone(2007), the ending leaves the main character with a tricky choice. Here, Jason Patrick has a choice to hand in the confession tape or not. Both choices will disadvantage someone unfairly, if he hands in the tape, two junkies will be accused of a murder they did not commit, otherwise Calvess's(the cop whose murder investigation was taking place) widow will stop receiving his pension. It's a question of morals, which the film doesn't spoon- feed or preach explicitly. Hence, the ending is left open ended. Overall, the statement that Narc is a good film is an understatement. It is more than good. It is widely established as just a good 2002 cop film, but it should be remembered as more than that.

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