Violence & Thought
I saw Narc for the first time back in January when it was released in theatres, and I was impressed by its raw violence and thoughtful plot that is absent from movies nowadays. It may look like another police drama, but this is far from the case. This movie stops and doubles back on you without the viewer even realizing it, and the final revelation is shocking.
As I said, this movie does not pull any punches with the violence. It's raw, and most importantly, terrifyingly real. In the opening scene, we see a foot chase, an undercover narcotics agent pursuing a junkie. In this time, the junkie takes a man hostage, then stabs him in the back of the neck. The victim lets loose a blood-curdling scream, causing bystanders to scream as well. When the junkie grabs a small child, the agent opens fire. He hits the junkie right in the face, but also hits a pregant woman, mother of the child. Blood pours from her wound, she's screaming, the child screaming, the onlookers are screaming, the police sirens are wailing. It's almost scary.
You have to assume with Ray Liotta starring that the acting is over the top. It's some of the finest acting, and Ray Liotta rivals even Denzel Washington from Training Day. Jason Patric is the very good, and I would think this would help him land more roles. His chemistry with Liotta is unbelievable.
The agent that shot the pregnant woman, Nick Tellis, ( Patric ) is suspended, but is brought back in the force because his cover remains intact. He must investigate the murder of a police officer, whose partner is hot-tempered Henry Oak. The investigation takes them through the seedy underworld of Detroit. Is Oak a loose cannon? Is Tellis able to control is own emotions and his partner? Who really killed Oak's partner? It's a fine plot that's worthy of an Oscar nomination, though I doubt it will get one.