Rating: 
Summary: Definitely NOT your typical holiday film.
Review: Just saw the film. Great story, great action, great acting (even the little baby can act!).When the film began, I was at first uncomfortable with the "Indy" feel to movie production and camerawork. But I was soon convinced, as I gained a sense of witnessing real people cope with brutality and loss. It's been days since I've seen this film, but the images still haunt.
Rating: 
Summary: starts well but falls apart in second half
Review: "Narc" starts off well above average for a film of its type, but its virtues are soon lost in a welter of cop-movie stereotypes and clichés. The film is at its best when it concentrates on its main character, Nick Tellis, a man who has experienced the personal degradation that comes from being an undercover narcotics officer, one who has successfully infiltrated the lowlife drug world of inner city Detroit. As the film opens, Tellis has been put on leave for his involvement in the accidental shooting of a pregnant woman during a drug bust. Valuing the knowledge and skills he has accumulated in his time spent undercover, the force asks him to come back and help investigate the recent death of another undercover cop at the hands of some dealers. Joining Tellis in his quest is Detective Lieutenant Henry R. Oaks, a personal friend of the murdered man and something of a rogue cop himself, known for going outside the law when he deems it appropriate and even using violence against suspects in order to achieve his ends. Together the two men unravel the clues in the hope of bringing the right people to justice. For about the first half of the movie's running time, writer/director Joe Carnahan manages to elevate "Narc" above the formulaic limits of its genre by focusing on the personal struggle Tellis is going through. Here is a man who is attempting to come to terms with the trauma caused by his recent experiences, as well as trying to find a proper balance between obsession over the case he's been handed to solve and the love he has for his devoted wife and infant son. The film also does a nice job bringing to life the behind-the-scenes aspects of undercover narcotics works. But about halfway through the film, the plot mechanics begin to take over and we are subjected to the kind of gimmicky plot twists that have become all too familiar from countless crime dramas on TV. To make matters worse, in the case of "Narc," the revelatory "twist" at the end of the story is one that can be detected about five minutes into the movie. It's a shame that a film that begins with such promise should fall apart so completely, turning into little more than an overwrought, utterly unconvincing two-bit melodrama by the end. And this does total injustice to both Jason Patric and Ray Liotta, who deliver solid performances as Tellis and Oaks, respectively, and to Krista Bridges, who provides some powerful moments as Tellis' loving but distraught wife who hates seeing her husband becoming once again absorbed by the insidious power of the career he has chosen. You can go about halfway with "Narc," but, then, why bother when you can get pretty much the same thing for free on TV?
Rating:
Summary: Machine Gun Intensity
Review: During this movie, I felt like I was transported to the 1970's. On the big screen was Al Pacino and Gene Hackman, fighting ruthless criminals and dirty cops in a modern noir death fest. I felt the tension, the shock of cops beating up suspects, drug deals going down, shootouts, the lower dregs of urbania, all laid out on a big screen in front of me. Narc does not shy away from its roots, not that one should hide from comparisons to movies like Serpico and The French Connection. There is nothing wrong with reinterpreting those styles, especially in a movie genre that has been flooded lately with wannabees. The cop thriller genre was designed to be reality, in which there was no moral code, it was just the guy with the badge trying to bust the guys on the street with the guns. Narc is a beautiful example of the modern implications of this dynamic, adding a lot of its own influence to an American cinema zeitgeist. With great acting and near constant intensity, this movie never lets up. We start with the brutal gangland murder of an undercover narcotics detective. A cop lies dead, a bullet in his head. The case has gone unsolved for 60 days, and the Detroit force is getting desperate. They turn to Jason Patric's character, Detective Tellis. Tellis suffered a fall from grace resulting from a shootout gone bad. The force offers this assignment to him as an opportunity for redemption. Going against his instincts and the wishes of his wife, he decides to go after the murderers. Enter Detective Oak, played by Ray Liotta. Oak is a man possessed, full of hatred for the criminal element, and driven by a fanatical lust for vengeance. He was friends with the dead narc, and he will do anything to bring his killers to justice. At first, the assignment seems fairly cut and dry, and the awkward duo of Oak and Tellis make substantial headway. However, the investigation soon degenerates into a rolling disaster, as Oak becomes increasingly unstable. Tellis, his family crumbling behind the scenes, tries desperately to keep it together, but he proves little challenge to Oak's escalating brutality. The movies climax is one of the most intense battles of will you are ever going to see on film. First off, the acting is incredible. I was not really a big fan of Jason Patric before this movie, but count me in as a convert. Man, he is something to see in this role. I was really impressed with the complexity and energy he managed to portray. A great performance by Ray Liotta is no big surprise, but he really pushed the envelope here. Not only did he pull off a pretty dramatic physical transformation, gaining 25 pounds for the role, but he also delivers such a great portrayal of a man on the edge, definitely comparable to the immortal Henry Hill of Goodfellas. Their presence in this movie makes it great. Another highlight of this movie was the shootouts. They are wild and shockingly realistic, some of the best rapid-fire sequences I have ever seen. The whole filming of the movie seems very realistic, a transport into a really gritty environment. Story wise, Narc is fairly predictable. It tries a little too hard at the end, but I still loved how it pulled it off. The Police Thriller at is gritty best.
Rating: 
Summary: A (VERY) GRITTY POLICE DRAMA
Review: In the urban decay of metropolitan Detroit during the somber and gray winter Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) and Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), both narcotic detectives, set out to find the killer(s) of Oak's former partner. What follows is an adventure that will surely take you on a ride through drug dealing craziness and police deceptions. Who you think is a bad guy could turn out to be the good guy and vice versa. There are enough twists and turns during NARC to keep you satisfied until the end. And to top it all off, the ending will leave you guessing and wanting more. The cinematography is beautiful -- chasing the drug addict and undercover detective down the alley in addition to four pictures in one are only a few examples. Just the creativity involved in filming NARC deserves an honorable mention. Go see this movie if you're interested in gutsy police dramas and aren't bothered by blood, guts and violence.
Rating:
Summary: Great cop drama!
Review: Great movie. Very hard-hitting action/drama. Great ending, leaving the main character with an interesting moral dilemma and leaving the viewer wondering what he/she would do in the character's place. A great change from all those movies that show everything wrapped up in a nice neat fairy-tale package at the end.
Rating:
Summary: Steals your eyes into the screen then scorches them away!
Review: Narc is perhaps one the most original, exciting and gritty movies on police corruption since Serpico. If you're looking for a no nonsense movie filled with plot twists, great acting, and suspense this movie is for you. Hands down, the cast was amazing and believable. I am happy that Ray Liotta selected this project because he hasn't been this good in a movie since the Goodfellas! You will leave the movie shaken as if Ray was yelling down your throat. I am also thankful that Jason Patric(who is a underrated actor)decided to stop taking useless roles such as Speed 2 Cruise Control and instead took on a role where he could show the movie audience his intelligence and rising star. Joe Carnahan also had a lot to prove as he did shed his Tarantino-wannabe style from his first movie. Other movies in the police corruption genre such as Training Day were lead by great actors as well, yet their big budget did ruin its authenticity. However even with a very small budget, Carnahan was still able to make a very authentic slick piece of filmaking. Narc was dark and gritty in many ways such as its violence. The violence was strong and brutal especially in the jaw dropping opening scene and the unforgettable ending, so do take that under consideration before taking young children into the picture. This film is a true gem, it's indeed a film worth driving to select theatres to see it, you will love it.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful acting and gripping story
Review: This film blew me away. From the opening scene with Jason Patric to the end, "Narc" had me on the edge of my seat! I found the beginning a bit slow but the film picks up its pace and the climax is great. This is a must see!
Rating:
Summary: "NARC" Quite Enough
Review: NARC, starring Jason Patric and Ray Liotta is a story not of good cop, bad cop, but of bad cop and worse cop. Both are undercover Narcotics officers in the Detroit police department. Both of their careers are in jeopardy and they are given one last chance in the murder investigation of a fellow officer. My thoughts: -Ray Liotta gives an extremely powerful performance. He has a larger than life presence and as a viewer, his rage is palpable. -Jason Patric's performance was OK, nothing special, but he and Liotta make a good duo. -In a bit part, Busta Rhymes of rap fame, gave a good performance as a suspected murderer. The plot and the writing are good and they do a good job of keeping things moving along. But, it just seemed like there was something lacking, so for this reason I only give it four stars. But, it is a gritty look at cops and their lives.
Rating:
Summary: Strong performances from Patric and Liotta
Review: When a cop drama is described as "gritty", you know to expect extremely brutal violence, cops breaking rules to terrorize criminal suspects into confessions, grimy cinematography, terse dialogue, and lots of shouting. It's a genre that paints in broad brush strokes, and Narc is no exception. In this case, though, the performances by Ray Liotta and Jason Patric provide the nuance that elevate this movie above your usual television cop drama episode. A scene when Liotta breaks out in laughter when he hears Patric's theory on how a murder victim might have killed himself gave me an unusual shot of joy. It's wonderfully spontaneous. Liotta gained some weight for this role, and he moves with a certain heft and physical presence that he hasn't had in previous roles. Patric sheds all his glamor in potraying an officer haunted by his past and driven to uncover the truth about the death of Liotta's previous partner. I could have done without director Joe Carnahan's obvious stylistic attempts to heighten the drama (something that doomed his previous film Blood Guts Bullets & Octane). The opening handheld shots captured by a sprinting cameraman made me ill, the occasional shots of Patric brooding alone in a park rolled my eyes, and the rapid flashes to the alleged murder scene at the heart of the movie actually draw more attention away from the story than it should. All the advance Hollywood buzz (the movie caught the eye of Hollywood bigwigs after Sundance and some private screenings in L.A. and Tom Cruise jumped in as executive producer) will bring the audience in. Once they're in their seats, the camera needs only to stay on the two leads to keep their interest. Fortunately, it does just that for most of the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Our absurd drug laws claim more victims
Review: I have no idea if writer/director Joe Carnahan believes that America's war on drugs is backfiring and causing far more harm than good. It may indeed not be fair to describe "Narc" as a film with a message. Nevertheless, it forcefully reminds us that the unintentional consequences of these laws result in the corruption of both the police and our overall system of justice. Detroit Police Officer Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) accidentally kills an innocent bystander during a drug bust. He also develops a drug dependency problem while performing his duty as an undercover narc. Neither tragedy, needless to add, would have occurred if drugs were decriminalized. The man is now psychological warped and finds it difficult to function as a cop, husband, or parent. Is there any way that he might find redemption? A fellow narcotics officer is found shot to death. Tellis is assigned to partner with Lieutenant Henry Oak (Ray Liotta) to find out what happened. Both men are more than willing to torture suspects and violate their constitutional rights. The end, in their way of looking at the world, virtually justifies any means. They might feel a sense of guilt, but fighting the drug war is supposedly more important than honoring the moral norms of our country. "Narc" is a beautifully written story containing some of the best dialogue of any film that I've seen in a long time. The acting is utterly fantastic and the action is nonstop and brutal. "Narc" should disturb any law abiding American that doesn't want our country turned into a gestapo styled police state. One does not need to be a political Liberal (and I am not!) to conclude that something is wrong when the system inadvertently encourages such despicable behavior. This is not escapist entertainment and the ending will not be deemed satisfactory. Why is that? There is no way that the ludicrous war on drugs can possibly be won--and therefore any ending to such a film as "Narc" is doomed to be frustrating and even nihilistically hopeless. Wars are meant to be relatively short termed events that ultimately end in some sort of victory. That of course will never be in the case when society attempts to prevent some of its citizens from indulging in self destructive behavior. Human beings must sometimes be permitted to go to hell in a hand basket if they choose to do so. I also highly recommend that everyone view Jason Patric's earlier 1991 masterpiece "Rush." This great film similarly revolved around the human carnage resulting from our inane reluctance to legalize mind altering drugs.
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