JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonNarc (2002)
September 25th 2006 03:06
Narc
DVD Cover
Writer/Director: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Jason Patric, Ray Liotta
Length:105 Mins
“I remember one night. I went with the sheriffs on a warrant raid. This dipshit was selling meth out of his apartment. Just a stop-and-pop. Broke down the door, rousted the guy. I was in one of the back rooms looking for junk when I hear something. I turn around and see these... eyes staring at me from a closet. It was a little girl. A little ten year old girl. Naked. Shaking like a leaf; she was scared to death. Her stepfather was pimping her out for rent. I wrapped her in my coat, carried her out to the squad car. I went back... and I beat that motherfucker half to death.”- Henry Oaks
Narc is a ferocious film that grabs you by the pubic hairs and drags you into the murky world of cops, crims and innocent victims. Writer/Director Joe Carahan uses the French Connection’s eye for realism as a template, the results are exemplarily.
Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) is a disgraced narc cop who lost himself in the job and came out on the wrong side. 18 months later he is dragged back into service to investigate the unsolved, drug related murder of a fellow undercover officer.
Assigned to work with the slaughtered rookie’s highly volatile, borderline psychotic ex partner Henry Oaks (Ray Liotta).
Together, the two carve their way through the slew of shady suspects and follow paper thin clues deeper into a hazy underground of mystery and conspiracy.
“The only thing you need to know about me is that I'm gonna bag the motherfuckers who killed Mike”.- Henry Oaks
John Doe Says:
I still am amazed that my girlfriend and I saw this unforgettable film twice in an empty theatre. Narc has everything I look for in a crime thriller. Its dark and violent, thoughtful and authentic, most importantly it’s smart and engaging.
The hand held velocity of the opening scene is a bitch slap that you won’t soon forget. The tension never lets up; the cinematography is in your face, the editing inspired and the storytelling tight and compelling. Its intuitive filmmaking that feels fresh and brave.
Jason Patric (Rush, Lost Boys, Geronimo,Your Friends and Neighbours) dazzles with slow burning intensity. His commitment to the conflicted character of Nick Tellis is one of the great performances of the new millennium. In some ways the film could almost be a continuation of his earlier role as the drug addicted lawman in Rush.
Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Identity, Revolver) delivers the performance of his career, piling on the pounds, becoming a force to be reckoned with. His Henry Oak seeps menace from every pore, is unpredictable and at times downright frightening. Not that he is a black and white character, no one in this film is.
“A little girl being brutalized... a little girl being abused has got nothing to do with the rules and regulations and everything to do with right and wrong.” Henry Oaks
The realistic feel of the film also comes from having a lot of the extras and small bit parts being filled by non-actors pulled straight from locations.
This is a film that you live through, constantly having to process information and follow the leads yourself in order to keep up. If it’s tough as nails, gritty realism you want, then this is the film for you.
The DVD
The picture and sound are a real workout for your home theatre system, it’s a great transfer. The extras too are sublime with the Directors commentary offering anecdotes and invaluable advice to future filmmakers.
The 2 making of featurettes are refreshingly honest and quite informative. As a worshipper of the French Connection the feature with Director William Friedkin gushing over the film was also exceptional.
Starring: Jason Patric, Ray Liotta
Length:105 Mins
“I remember one night. I went with the sheriffs on a warrant raid. This dipshit was selling meth out of his apartment. Just a stop-and-pop. Broke down the door, rousted the guy. I was in one of the back rooms looking for junk when I hear something. I turn around and see these... eyes staring at me from a closet. It was a little girl. A little ten year old girl. Naked. Shaking like a leaf; she was scared to death. Her stepfather was pimping her out for rent. I wrapped her in my coat, carried her out to the squad car. I went back... and I beat that motherfucker half to death.”- Henry Oaks
Narc is a ferocious film that grabs you by the pubic hairs and drags you into the murky world of cops, crims and innocent victims. Writer/Director Joe Carahan uses the French Connection’s eye for realism as a template, the results are exemplarily.
Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) is a disgraced narc cop who lost himself in the job and came out on the wrong side. 18 months later he is dragged back into service to investigate the unsolved, drug related murder of a fellow undercover officer.
Together, the two carve their way through the slew of shady suspects and follow paper thin clues deeper into a hazy underground of mystery and conspiracy.
“The only thing you need to know about me is that I'm gonna bag the motherfuckers who killed Mike”.- Henry Oaks
John Doe Says:
I still am amazed that my girlfriend and I saw this unforgettable film twice in an empty theatre. Narc has everything I look for in a crime thriller. Its dark and violent, thoughtful and authentic, most importantly it’s smart and engaging.
The hand held velocity of the opening scene is a bitch slap that you won’t soon forget. The tension never lets up; the cinematography is in your face, the editing inspired and the storytelling tight and compelling. Its intuitive filmmaking that feels fresh and brave.
Jason Patric (Rush, Lost Boys, Geronimo,Your Friends and Neighbours) dazzles with slow burning intensity. His commitment to the conflicted character of Nick Tellis is one of the great performances of the new millennium. In some ways the film could almost be a continuation of his earlier role as the drug addicted lawman in Rush.
Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Identity, Revolver) delivers the performance of his career, piling on the pounds, becoming a force to be reckoned with. His Henry Oak seeps menace from every pore, is unpredictable and at times downright frightening. Not that he is a black and white character, no one in this film is.
“A little girl being brutalized... a little girl being abused has got nothing to do with the rules and regulations and everything to do with right and wrong.” Henry Oaks
The realistic feel of the film also comes from having a lot of the extras and small bit parts being filled by non-actors pulled straight from locations.
This is a film that you live through, constantly having to process information and follow the leads yourself in order to keep up. If it’s tough as nails, gritty realism you want, then this is the film for you.
The DVD
The picture and sound are a real workout for your home theatre system, it’s a great transfer. The extras too are sublime with the Directors commentary offering anecdotes and invaluable advice to future filmmakers.
The 2 making of featurettes are refreshingly honest and quite informative. As a worshipper of the French Connection the feature with Director William Friedkin gushing over the film was also exceptional.
5 other must see cop thrillers:
Peter Yates' Bullitt
William Friedkin's French Connection (OfCourse)
William Friedkin's To Live and Die In LA
Sidney Lumet's Serpico
Don Siegel's Madigan
"Be vewy, vewy quiet, we're hunting wabbits."
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Anonymous
Im one of those people who doesnt care what people do in their spare time as long as they are good at their jobs.
Liotta has been inconsistent in his roles and choices. This is probablyone of the reasons, shame because he is fantastic in Narc.
Comment by Justin
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Thanks Justin, always good to see another fan of this crackling film.