Fantastic!

Brilliant and touching

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

I only recently watched Narc even although I had it on my radar for a number of years. It was definitely worth waiting for! The acting is first class from Ray Liotta and Jason Patric was particularly impressive in his role as a returning detective who confronts old demons at the potential expense of all he has. His performance was vaguely reminiscent of William Peterson's fantastic haunted detective in 'Manhunter'. Witnessing such a troubled, flawed yet ultimately good character gave the entire story line serious depth and left you guessing right up until the climax about how it was all going to pan out. Great as a thriller - high impact acting performances and an intricate story line makes this one of those underrated gems that are so satisfying to unearth.

Narc (2002): Dir: Joe Carnahan / Cast: Jason Patric, Ray Liotta, Chi McBride, Krista Bridges, Anne Openshaw: Compelling examination of law enforcement and manipulation. Jason Patric plays a cop who is under investigation after he shot a suspect to save a little girl yet injured a pregnant woman. He is reassigned with Ray Liotta to investigate a cop killing. It may remind viewers of similar films such as The French Connection, The Fugitive and Serpico. Detailed and surprising screenplay right up to its final moments where truths are realized. Director Joe Carahan presents realism and an effective point of view chase sequence during the film's opening. Patric is flawless as a cop previously under the influence of drugs but now has a wife and child. Liotta is at his best as a cop sadistic in his methods of interrogation. He has a bad reputation but we learn why he is as such. Where the film goes wrong is its standard supporting roles that threaten the screenplay with formula elements. Chi McBride plays the Chief whose function is to bark orders. Krista Bridges plays Patric's wife who spends the entire film complaining about his job and the fact that he is never around. Then she leaves him, which seems to solve nothing. Anne Openshaw plays the widow of a victim who is more or less sheltered by corruption. Theme regards inner demons plaguing the mind. Score: 9 / 10

This movie was as good as I expected it to be. It was raw, nasty and just violent enough. Both Patric and Liotta were totally immersed in their characters and it was directed impeccably. The fighting and shootouts were realistic (although the blood looked a little fake) and there wasn't one bad actor to speak of.The only problem I have is with a hole in the plot. If Oak is so concerned with Calvess' widow receiving his pension, why would he care that Cheevers wanted to pin his death on Eugene Sheps? It would have solved that problem. And he could still get his revenge on Love and Steeds later by killing them, which he came within an inch of anyway. The concept that Oak felt that Love and Steeds were responsible for Calvess' addiction and would only accept their wrongful conviction of his murder as suitable revenge is a little bit of a stretch.

Beauty truly is in the eye. Yet another movie with a generously high rating for a film which personifies the term over rated.The film tries to mix a contemporary visual style more suited to promotional pop music video with the gritty low down look and feel of far superior 1970's cop dramas. The opening scene is engaging showing how Patric's undercover narcotics cop got fired from the force by means of an accidental shooting while chasing a suspect on foot, with clever use by the director of a hand held camera. Its all downhill from then on i am afraid.Rarely have i been more disinterested in a police procedural than this. The plot involves Patric being reinstated to the force in order to assist fellow detective, Liotta, in solving the murder of another undercover narcotics cop. There is much domestic angst on display as Patric and his wife fall out over his decision to join up again which is really wearing to watch.A tedious reminiscing conversation between Patric and Liotta whist on a stakeout contains the crucial information regarding the films "twist". This plot "revelation" at the films conclusion had me groaning in disbelief at how they couldn't even elevate this mundane fare with something more profound than this. During the whole course of the movie you never feel any empathy for the slain officer. His life story receives air brushed attention touching on corruption and drug addiction. Maybe you like the bursts of violence, or the visual style. For me i became disenfranchised with this after about 15 minutes never to return and thats what i really call criminal.