Narc [2002] Ray Liotta

Narc (2002)


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272207/

Narc is a 2002 Canadian-American crime film about corrupt police involved in the illegal

drug trade. It was released to critical acclaim and moderate commercial success. It was

written and directed by Joe Carnahan. The plot centers around the efforts of two police

detectives as they search for the murderer of an undercover police officer. As they proceed

in the investigation they engage in suspect tactics and give viewers a glimpse into the

seedy side of undercover work.

Jason Patric ... Nick Tellis
Ray Liotta ... Henry Oak
Dan Leis ... Elvin Dowd
Lloyd Adams ... Walter Dandridge
Meagan Issa ... Little Girl
Lina Giornofelice ... Jeanine Mueller (as Lina Felice)
Alan C. Peterson ... Freeman Franks
Karen Robinson ... Liz Detmer
Chi McBride ... Captain Cheevers
Booth Savage ... Cecil Mitchum
Alan Van Sprang ... Michael Calvess
Gavyn Donaldson ... Tellis' Infant Son
Myles Donaldson ... Tellis' Infant Son
Krista Bridges ... Audrey Tellis
Thomas Patrice ... Officer Marcotte

Revitalizing the breed of hard-edged cop thrillers of the 1970s with considerable command,

writer-director Joe Carnahan ("Blood, Guts, Bullets & Octane") has fashioned a darkly

textured, powerfully suspenseful genre piece with his sophomore feature, "Narc." Starring

Ray Liotta in his most arresting performance in years, the film shuns the studio slickness

of comparable recent thrillers like "Training Day" for an edgier, rougher and more

viscerally violent style that makes for brutalizing but compelling entertainment. While the

proliferation of tough cop dramas on network and cable TV in recent years has eroded their

theatrical market, Lions Gate could access a receptive niche audience of diehard genre fans

with this sharply executed entry.

Carnahan plunges head-first into the action with a dizzying chase -- breathlessly shot with

handheld cameras -- as undercover Detroit narcotics detective Nick Tellis (Jason Patric)

pursues a felon on foot. When a baby is killed as a result of the shooting that follows,

Nick is suspended from duty. Eighteen months later, he is brought before a disciplinary

committee that offers to reinstate him, giving Nick the chance to redeem his reputation by

using his street contacts to collaborate in investigating the homicide of fellow undercover

cop Calvess.

Lenser Alex Nepomnischy creates a hard, gritty look with cold dark colors, bleeding the

light out of the blue-drenched wintry exteriors to great effect. John Gilroy's razor-sharp

editing keeps the action pumping along, and Cliff Martinez's moody electronic score adds

subtly to the brooding atmosphere.

Casting Society of America, USA
2003 Nominated Artios Best Casting for Feature Film, Independent Felicia Fasano Mary

Vernieu

Cognac Festival du Film Policier
2002 Won Special Prize of the Police Joe Carnahan

Golden Trailer Awards
2002 Nominated Golden Trailer Best Independent

Independent Spirit Awards
2003 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best Cinematography Alex Nepomniaschy
2003 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best Director Joe Carnahan
2003 Nominated Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Male Ray Liotta

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
2003 Nominated PFCS Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role Ray Liotta

Prism Awards
2003 Nominated Prism Award Performance in a Theatrical Feature Film Jason Patric

Sundance Film Festival
2002 Nominated Grand Jury Prize Dramatic Joe Carnahan