Narc (2002)

Pros: Nice cast, tremendous directing, nuanced story, very good actingCons: Slightly predictable From the very first scene you know two things; the directing will be original and somewhat bold, as well as that this will not be your standard crime drama. The characters in this movie feels believable and the acting is superb.The story isn't extremely original in itself, but with all the layers put on it by actors and director, it becomes more diversified than most other movies in the genre. Also, the director never lets the pace up. You're on a ride from the first scene to the last.The only downside, slight predictability, is only slight. I of course cannot expand on it without giving spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.All in all – if you like crime dramas, this is one to put on the list. Even if it turns out not being your cup of tea, you'll at least have enjoyed some really nice craftsmanship.

As other reviews have pointed out, in a sea of American cop dramas that end up on screen, Narc stands out in the overcrowded pack as one of the most under rated police films of all time. I rate the film so highly because of a superb script written by Joe Carnahan, Carnahan's unique direction, incredible cinematography by Alex Nepomniaschy, naturalistic and seemingly improvisational acting, especially by the films stars Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta, groundbreaking editing by Joh Gilroy and a relentless dedication to the project by Joe Carnahan and those involved with the project to bring it to life .The script, written by Director Joe Carnahan, has dialogue that is natural, gritty, and shows a detailed intricate knowledge of the lives of undercover Detroit police officers and the toll those lives take on the officers themselves, their families and the communities they work in. An interesting point about the film is the Directors choice, along with the actors, to stray from what Carnahan had penned and allow for the actors to improvise several sequences in the film. Without detailing every scene of the film, I will pick those that stand out to me and review the aspects of the film that I listed above.The opening scene of the film shows Jason Patrick, Detective Nick Tellis, in a park looking out at the city of Detroit. After seeing the film (God only knows how many times) Patricks "thousand yard stare" makes me wonder if this scene is actually Tellis thinking about turning over or not turning over the tape of Ray Liottas character, Detective Henry Oak's confession at the end of the film. This scene is followed by one of the most realistic, shocking and violent introductions to a film. Just in the same way Nicolas Winding Refn places you directly into the violent, ancient and primal world of Valhalla Rising, Carnahan thrusts you into the one of the worst days of an undercover officers life and makes you an active participant in that day. It is emotional, shocking, thrilling and heart wrenching as the chase involves two casualties, a male civilian who is injected with a lethal dose of of drugs, and a pregnant woman who is struck by a stray bullet fired from Tellis's gun. Tellis kills the suspect who was holding the pregnant woman's little daughter hostage but the woman loses her unborn child as a result of her injury. Hands down, this opening chase sequence is one of the memorable scenes put to film and one of the best openings to a film...ever. (Just my opinion. Feel free to disagree...even though you would be wrong.) :)This film stands alone from other films of the same genre, (Training Day, End of Watch) largely from Carnahan's unique vision and Alex Nepomniaschy incredibly raw cinematography. The two combined places you visually in the front seat. You are a partner to Tellis, a member of his family, a part of the investigation and a participant in his decisions that ultimately lead to the death of his partner at Tellis's hand. Which leads me to the other scene which is Tellis and Oak's final confrontation at the end of the movie. From the interrogation of a suspect, played surprisingly truthful and real by Busta Rhymes, to Tellis making the decision to shoot Oaks to save the suspects, the last 10 minutes of the film leaves you the same way it opened, heart pumping, out of breath and questioning your own beliefs about right and wrong.Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta deliver performances that are Oscar worthy. Tellis is the tortured undercover cop who is too close to his work. With little to no dialogue we see exactly how much he cares for his wife and child, and how fragile his family unit is. He is a man desperately trying to hold on to the life he wants to have, while struggling to survive the life he actually has.Ray Liotta's performance is exquisite. He shoulders the heavy burden of the secrets he keeps to protect the ones he loves. He carries the weight of the world on his shoulders and relieves that pressure by exercising brutal police judgment on the criminals of the city. Both actors are vulnerable and haunting in their own unique way. This film is incredible and should be included as a regular study for film makers. With a record number of producers, Narc found a way to fight through budget problems, lack of funds and resources, production concerns and other issues to be brought to life and stand as one of the greatest films in its genre.

"Narc" is exactly the sort of movie for which the word "gritty" is meant. It's a tough, uncompromising, bleak, yet stylish crime drama that does very well when it comes to creating a constant seedy ambiance. Writer / director Joe Carnahan pays attention to detail and character; this is one of those instances where one might think they've figured out the twist laden plot only to learn that things aren't quite what they seem. Jason Patric plays Nick Tellis, an undercover narcotics detective under fire for a bust gone bad. A review board offers him a chance to redeem himself by working another case: the killing of another detective. He's basically recruited to keep someone else in check, and that's the dead detective's partner, Henry (Ray Liotta), a volatile maverick. Carnahan keeps things tough, honest, and free from too much sentiment, revealing layers to the characters a bit at a time. Tellis's wife Audrey (Krista Bridges), not surprisingly, is having a hard time dealing with the grim reality of her husband's life and job. Carnahan's use of colour is striking, and while the camera sometimes moves a bit much - and shakes - for its own good, there's no denying that there's a major visceral effectiveness to the film. The director also works in themes of family and loyalty and the maintaining of images, and gets two memorable performances from his two stars, who completely disappear into their roles. Liotta kicks ass in a role that initially seems clichéd but turns out to be reasonably complex. Also to be seen in an important small part is music star Busta Rhymes as a lowlife who opens up Tellis's eyes to additional information about his new partner, while Chi McBride is quietly authoritative as the police captain. These actors help to sell the reality of this violent, profane story, which never loses its grip despite a slow and steady pace. It has a real grabber of an opening, and remains very watchable right through to its downbeat resolution. It comes recommended to fans of hard hitting cop stories. Seven out of 10.

What makes this movie so good, is the way in which it is shot. While watching it you can almost feel the icy winds in your face and sense the cold. This 'unpleasant' atmosphere has been brilliantly captured throughout the entire movie, by using the non-sugarcoated scenery of Detroit's lesser areas. The story is about Nick, a former undercover narcotics agent who has been put on non-active duty because internal affairs is investigating a shooting case he got involved with. After spending about a year with his family, the force needs his help again with a case that turned 'cold' concerning a killed undercover cop. Solving this case means he has to work with a gun-ho, no-holding-back Ray Liotta and it requires him to get back out on the street and look for leads among his previously established contacts in Detroit's meth- world. Slowly they acquire some leads but those leads only seem to further complicate the case. Although the story isn't all that original, it basically shows how tough it is for undercover cops to combine being the nice and tender family man and a devoted narcotics detective, this movie is still very unique. It provides a combination of great acting and impressive camera work in scenes varying from harsh violence to gripping dialogues shot in the unpolished surroundings of mid-winter, downtown Detroit.