I watch way too many movies, and it’s easy sometimes to get a bit jaded when you start reviewing them. Films can start to run together and though many are good, there are only a few that really stand out in the crowd. “Narc” is this year’s standout film. The other night I sat down to watch “Narc”, starring Ray Liotta and Jason Patric. The film centers on narcotics officer Nick Tellis (Patric) who is suspended after an accidental shooting. He is later re-instated, if he agrees to investigate the murder of another undercover officer. He teams with the officer’s partner, Henry Oak (Liotta), who is a hardened and brutal cop, bent on finding the killer. I had heard a lot about “Narc” when it first came out and was really looking forward to seeing it. I knew little about the film itself as far as storyline, but knew quite a bit about the challenges it had getting made. I had read about the budgetary constraints of having lost some its investment, having to shoot the entire thing in only 28 days, etc… But what I also heard about the passion the people involved with the film had in getting it done.

The actors worked on the film for way under scale, and the usually trim Liotta gained a lot of weight in order to physically present Oak as he needed to be portrayed. There was also a point where there was some concern that they would get paid at all, but they all felt so strongly about the piece that the production continued.

What director Joe Carnahan created in those short 28 days, is nothing short of incredible as far as films go. “Narc” is a hard-edged cop drama that succeeds in getting to the heart of the men who work in and around the world of undercover narcotics. The lines are shown to be very thin between the criminals and the men who take them down, often making the cops seem as bad as the bad guys. But in my opinion these animals don’t play by any rules, so neither should the cops.

The story in “Narc” is often perplexing, it’s a mystery shown through flashbacks. But you can’t always believe what you see. The flashbacks are shown as a mixture of things that did happen, as well as things just might have happened. I loved the way this was done, because as a viewer, you were allowed to think for yourself. You have to decide if what you are seeing is true, or what someone wants you to believe. Ultimately, the payoff in “Narc” is outstanding and I challenge you to see the truth in your own mind before it’s revealed to you. My wife actually made a bet with me as to the outcome and towards the end I handed over the five bucks. Moments later, she handed it back. The single greatest thing about this movie is how it twists, but never cheats.

Jason Patric is one of those actors who are great to watch, because he long ago gave up the ‘teen image’ he was starting to build with “The Lost Boys.” He became one of those maverick actors who only wanted the really ‘meaty’ roles that were challenging, and often psychologically draining. His performance as Tellis is one of those roles.

As for Ray Liotta, this has easily got to be the role of his career. I’ve always considered him to be a highly under-rated actor, but occasionally he is cast in parts that are beneath him. He generally brings a lot to these roles, but often has to overact to make them interesting. In “Narc”, Liotta turns in what should have been an Oscar nominated performance. His character is so subtle in his actions, even when they become violent. And no matter how calm he may seem to be, you can see the rage just below the surface.

“Narc” can be a hard movie to watch, as it is often shocking. The opening sequence is one of the best I’ve seen in recent times. Trellis’ chasing down of a suspect is shot with hand held cameras and the jittery look adds so much to the feel of the chase. It’s very stark, and you can hear every breath and footfall as he runs full out. It was exhaustive to watch. The scene ends with the eventual showdown and shocking conclusion that drew me completely into the movies’ clutches.

The Paramount DVD release, offers up just enough extras. With a movie this good, anything added is cake. The commentary by writer/director Carnahan and editor John Gilroy is sharp and informative. They delve very deeply into the background of the project. There are three featurettes of various lengths that fill you in on just what you need to know about how the film came together. Some of what is included in these featurettes focus on what I had already known about the film, but fleshed out the information.

There is also an interview with director William Friedkin, of whom Carnahan was a huge fan. He offers up probably the best review of the film using on of his own movies, “The French Connection” as a basis for comparison. He touches on many aspects of the film, and talks about how Carnahan was able to do things with “Narc” that he wasn’t able to do in “The French Connection” due to the nature of audiences and what they expected at the time.

“Narc” is an excellent movie, but I highly recommend it. There have been comments that it is too violent, but I don’t think that is true. It’s dark and gritty, and it has some scenes of extremely violent intent, physical without necessarily being bloody. The blood is more of an afterthought as opposed to seeing it fly. It’s hard to explain, but the film is certainly not for the faint of heart, or those who expect a neat and tidy Hollywood happy ending.

Directed by: Joe Carnahan
Starring: Jason Patric, Ray Liotta, Chi McBride, Busta Rhymes
Extras: Commentary by writer/director Joe Carnahan and editor John Gilroy, Three Featurettes – “Making the Deal”, “Shooting Up” and “The Visual Trip”; The Friedkin Connection
Specifications: Widescreen Version Enhanced for 16x9 Televisions, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, English Dolby Surround, French 5.1 Surround
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 6/17/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (For Strong Brutal Violence, Drug Content and Pervasive Language)
Website

We'll give Narc an A.