Narc (2002)

I actually thought about it a bit when I was making my "aughts" list. I don't think the story and characters stuck with me enough to get it on the list though. It's still a very good film though.

The camera work/editing therof is fantastically kinetic. Jason Patric's work in this is also excellent.

The intro chase, providing it didn't make you dizzy, was definitely one of the great openings of the last ten years. It's a good movie, which showed off carnahan's directorial skills and ability to get performances out of his actors, but I think it lacks 'something' to put it in any top 10 lists.

Contempt for Joe Buck can only increase his standing in my eyes.

Patric was pretty good in that rather average Alamo movie. Actually now that I think about it so were Patrick Wilson and Billy Bob.

This is an absolutely amazing movie, savage and powerful with great twists and turns and emotional sucker-punches. Probably my favorite Patric role. His partnership and conflict with Liotta is completely mesmerizing.

If I'd had the time and energy to expand my top 25 of the decade to 50, Narc would definitely have been on there.

Just saw this for the first time at like 1 am last night. I liked it. I liked the direction alot better than the plot or cast. The filmmaking felt fresh, and I loved the cold blue look of the photography. The opening chase in particular had that crazy unhinged nightmare rush that drugs will give you, and I thought it was cool to see that captured on film. A completely thrilling sequence that sucked me into the film, even though it was already past midnight and I was tired when I put the DVD in

With that said, JP was fine but RL was not. RL was very one note. He wasn't bad.. just boring, and the 'twist' was kind of spoiled by the fact that Liotta's motivations were completely transparent throughout the whole picture. That guy just can't do subtlety.


I really was impressed by Mr Carnahan though and now am sad he didn't get his chance to make WHITE JAZZ. He'd have been PERFECT for that

EDIT: People asked if other Chewers believed the ending, whether or not his partner would really have done that in the tunnel. I say: No.

It has huge lead performances that buoy the entire thing. Its really a terrific little flick.

The real questions to be asked after all this time are these. Why is Jason Patric not getting his pick of great film roles out there? What the hell happened to Joe Carnahan?

Too bad we never got Killing Pablo.

Pretty sure Carnahan has a movie out soon- something about some sort of team....

Really? Smoking Aces and A-Team aren't Narc level are they?

Shit White Jazz would have been nice as well.

Well I liked Smokin Aces.....I don't think anyone else did.

I revisited this last night. It really is a great film that seems to have been a bit sidetracked. I think it's because Joe Carnahan didn't really follow up on the film's promise. I haven't seen Smoking Aces (1 or 2) and The A-Team was fun. But, after watching this debut, you really expect him to go to different places.

 

The performances are peerless and there's a sense of real authenticity. Liotta and Patric manage to create characters that are both grounded and larger than life at the same time.  I don't know if that makes sense but it's what I feel.

 

The final scene between them, as Liotta is just beating on him is a tremendous bit of visceral acting from both of them.
 

I'd even call it one of the great action sequences.

 

People often complain about shaky cam in movies as making the action incoherent. Paul Greengrass gets a lot of shit. But I think, here, that shaky cam is essential. You really feel like you're part of the chase. It's a tremendous way to open a picture. And then the film manages to maintain that level of intensity just through the performances (there is very little in the way of any action for the remainder of the film).

I miss Ray Liotta being this good.