Narc (2002)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Joe Carnahan

Writer (WGA):

Joe Carnahan (written by)

Release Date:

10 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

When the trail goes cold on a murder investigation of a policeman an undercover narcotics officer is lured back to the force to help solve the case.

Plot Keywords:

Undercover | Murder | Pregnant | Gritty Drama | Pregnant Woman Shot

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Dan Leis	...	Elvin Dowd
Jason Patric	...	Nick Tellis
Lloyd Adams	...	Walter Dandridge
Meagan Issa	...	Little Girl
Lina Giornofelice	...	Jeanine Mueller (as Lina Felice)
Alan C. Peterson	...	Freeman Franks
Karen Robinson	...	Liz Detmer
Chi McBride	...	Captain Cheevers
Booth Savage	...	Cecil Mitchum
Alan Van Sprang	...	Michael Calvess
Gavyn Donaldson	...	Tellis' Infant Son
Myles Donaldson	...	Tellis' Infant Son
Krista Bridges	...	Audrey Tellis
Ray Liotta	...	Henry Oak
Thomas Patrice	...	Officer Marcotte

Also Known As:

Narco (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, drug content and pervasive language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (No. 39112) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:18A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Tom Cruise was so impressed after seeing the movie that he took on the role of executive producer, and made sure the movie got a wider release than originally planned. He also convinced director Joe Carnahan to take the director's chair for Cruise's upcoming Mission: Impossible III (2006). However, not long after production started, Carnahan left the set due to creative differences with Cruise.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Towards the end of the movie, Jason Patric breaks open the car window and, when he opens the door, the legs of several crewmembers are visible through the door's rearview mirror.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Henry Oak: [crying] Oh, my God, Mike, I'm sorry. Oh, my God, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Deck-A-Rep: The True Nature of Rick Deckard (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Punk Ass

Cerebral Cop Thriller

The good-cop-bad-cop pairing in movies is so well-worn, that it has practically become a Hollywood institution. Thankfully 'Narc' powerfully smashes the stereotype.

Persuaded back into active service by his bosses, ex narcotics cop Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) finds himself investigating the murder of a fellow officer alongside live-wire new partner Henry Oak (Ray Liotta).

The coupling of Tellis and Oak feels so realistic, you actually understand each character's resentment at being pitched together.

It's this natural mistrust which erases the legacy of Lethal Weapon style buddy relationships, and instead harks back to classic '70s cop movies such as 'Serpico'.

'Narc' bristles with energy, from its heart-stopping hand-held opening chase to its brutal, bloody showdown, all the while framed by cold claustrophobic street scenes.

Director Joe Carnahan probes deep into the characters to discover what drives these men to lay their lives on the line, day in, day out.

It helps that the performance of both leading men is superb. Patric's troubled, introspective Tellis is torn between his loving family and his empathy for the dead undercover cop.

However, it's Liotta - Oak by name, oak by stature - who dominates the film with a career-best performance. Intimidating and brutal but never inhuman, he forces you to remember just how powerful a cinematic presence he can be, given the right material.

'Narc' is a fast-paced, original, gritty thriller that will leave you wanting another fix. 9/10