MOVIE - NARC - REVIEW RATING - $$$$$ $$$ (OUT OF 10)
STARRING: Ray Liotta (Henry Oak), Jason Patric (Nick Tellis), Chi McBride, Busta Rhymes & Richard Chevolleau.
DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Joe Carnahan (Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane)
Two cops, one with nothing to lose and the other with everything to lose, confirm the old adage that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Narc is a cop story that pairs a cop with the grittiness of Andy Sipowitz (NYPD Blue) with the integrity of a cop with a Serpico persona. The handwriting is on the wall, so to speak, regarding what the ultimate outcome of such a collaboration will be. Despite this, Narc's handwriting makes for excellent reading along the way.
Narc is not just another cop movie filled with car chases and gun battles. One of the main reasons why Narc is so compelling is the degree to which the main characters are developed. The character development, a rarity in all too many recent films, infuses the unfolding train wreck on-screen with meaningfulness. The viewer, provided with sufficient insight into the main characters, is afforded the opportunity to examine and judge the actions of the two diametrically opposed cops. As with all good morality plays the line between good and bad becomes blurred. The line is blurred to such a degree that your personal perspective will greatly influence which of the main characters you consider to be the good guy.
The moral dilemma, presented in Narc, could easily be hotly debated in any number of University classes (criminology, psychology, film studies etc.). That depth does not translate into a boring film. While Narc takes the time to develop its characters it keeps your interest aroused by increasingly cranking up the intensity with action and violence. The action and violence, unlike so many other movies, is not gratuitous but rather natural extensions of the plot and reflections on the characters's personas. All of this is accomplished in 105 minutes. Director Joe Carnahan deserves credit for once again demonstrating that a great story can be told in that amount of time. One only wishes other filmmakers, of lesser quality films, would learn this lesson. If you've seen Bloodwork and City By The Sea, two recent cop movies, you will immediately appreciate that Narc is in another, better league.
You have to pay attention watching Narc. There are numerous tidbits of information that if missed will spoil some of the pleasure of watching the film. These tidbits hint at the outcome and provide further explanations of the characters's motivations. Though all is revealed in the end, picking these tidbits out will allow you to better analyze the psychological motivations of the characters as they unfold.
Both Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta give excellent performances. Liotta bulked up for the film. The added physical weight was accompanied by a greater display of acting as well. Liotta, a likable enough actor, hasn't previously shown this much depth as an actor. His role in Narc is along way from his days as a Soap Opera star. Patrick, who also played an undercover cop in the 1991 Movie "Rush", expertly portrays the anguish and righteousness of his young gunslinger's personality.
There is one caveat to all the above compliments. From my perspective there were loop holes in the plot. As you know, I don't like to give away too much, but I will say this. The manner in which Patrick's character was brought onto the case was unusual to say the least. Compounding the problem is the later attempt, by higher ups, to shut the investigation down. Why reopen a case and then close it without any meaningful threat to the police department being exposed at that point in the story? Liotta's character, a seasoned veteran, appears unable to recognize that he's paired with a cop that doesn't share his perspective on policing. Let's just say, in hindsight, that it would have been more convincing if Patrick's character had independently arrived on the final scene. Taking him with you to begin with, considering what was at stake, was an error in judgment that is almost unexplainable in light of Liotta's character's experience.
Narc is a gritty, fresh take on the cop genre that is enjoyable on many levels simultaneously.
Alternative Reviews:
Roger Ebert's Review
D. Kasman's Review
RottenTomatoes Reviews
Official Website
|
© Copyright
2003
David Schwartz.
Last update:
8/9/03; 11:07:05 PM.
This theme is based on the SoundWaves
(blue) Manila theme. |
|
|
