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Movies / On DVD / Narc
Narc

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Narc (2002)

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Reviews Counted:151

Fresh:126

Rotten:25

Average Rating:7.1/10

Consensus: Jason Patric and Ray Liotta are electrifying in this gritty, if a little too familiar, cop drama.

Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: In homage to such classic films as "The French Connection" and "Serpico," writer/director Joe Carnahan's "Narc" explores the dark underbelly of the drug world with a compelling story about the... In homage to such classic films as "The French Connection" and "Serpico," writer/director Joe Carnahan's "Narc" explores the dark underbelly of the drug world with a compelling story about the intense psyche behind those individuals called "narcs," undercover officers who put themselves on the front lines of the war against drugs. Chipping away at the number of dealers on the streets, these brave men and women leave their loved ones behind each day as they throw themselves into the brutal world of drug abuse for one purpose only…to end it.

"Narc" tells the story of suspended undercover narcotics officer, Nick Tellis (Jason Patric), who is reluctantly drawn back onto the force to find the truth behind the murder of a young police officer killed in the line of duty. He is teamed with Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), the slain officer's partner, a rogue cop who will stop at nothing to avenge his friend's death. As Tellis and Oak unravel the case, the dark underbelly of the narcotics world reveals itself in surprising ways that are more twisted than either officer has seen before…and the mystery that slowly reveals itself threatens to destroy them both.

Nominated for the Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah and winner of the Special Prize Policier Award at the Cognac Film Festival in France, "Narc" is written and directed by an innovative new voice in filmmaking, Joe Carnahan ("Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane"). The film stars Jason Patric ("Your Friends & Neighbors," "Rush") and Ray Liotta ("Hannibal," "Goodfellas"). An intense adrenaline rush from the first heart-stopping chase scene to the stunning dramatic climax, this taut police thriller also features rap artist Busta Rhymes ("Finding Forester," "Shaft") and Chi McBride ("Undercover Brother"). [More]

Starring: Ray Liotta, Jason Patric, Busta Rhymes, Richard Chevolleau

Starring: Ray Liotta, Jason Patric, Busta Rhymes, Richard Chevolleau, Chi McBride, John Ortiz, Anne Openshaw, Alan Van Sprang, Tom Cruise

Director: Joe Carnahan

Director: Joe Carnahan
Screenwriter: Joe Carnahan
Producer: Ray Liotta
Composer: Cliff Martinez
Studio: Paramount Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Narc

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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If Carnahan keeps wrenching this material back an inch or two from cliché, it's only an inch or two.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The story and characters are nowhere near gripping enough.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
02/08/03
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

The twist that ends the movie is the one with the most emotional resonance, but twists are getting irritating, and this is the kind of material where the filmmakers should be very careful about raising eyebrows.

Full Review Source: UK Critic | comment Comment
02/16/03
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
Ian Waldron-Mantgani
UK Critic

It's exciting to witness fresh talent breaking, and Carnahan deserves some serious respect for this impressively gritty piece of genre cinema.

Full Review Source: FilmFour.com | comment Comment
02/11/03
FilmFour.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The director is helped in no small part by his leading men.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
08/31/03
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Imressive, gripping cop thriller with terrific performances from its two stars.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
02/08/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

A clever, thought-provoking thriller.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/29/03
Nev Pierce
Nev Pierce
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ferociously gritty and unsentimentally tough, Joe Carnahan's movie is drenched with a cynicism that permeates the celluloid itself.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
03/25/03
Peter Bradshaw
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Carnahan shows flair and confidence.

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
04/09/08
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

It looks fantastic (none of that anonymous Hollywood slickness here!), and with performances this interesting, it's definitely a cut above almost everything else in the genre at the moment.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
01/23/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
01/18/03
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
01/10/03
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

...Liotta is put in an impossible spot because his character’s deceptions ultimately undo him and the believability of the entire scenario. Too bad.

Full Review Source: Metro Times (Detroit, MI) | comment Comment
01/20/03
Anita Schmaltz
Anita Schmaltz
Metro Times (Detroit, MI)

In the end, the movie collapses on its shaky foundation despite the best efforts of director Joe Carnahan.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
01/10/03
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic

A chokehold of a movie, grabbing us but not ultimately engaging us.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
06/11/03
Duane Byrge
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Has true grittiness, but the plot's a little murky and the characters a little too familiar.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
01/09/03
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If only Narc had its originality in check, this could have been more of a chilling visceral ride into depravity.

Full Review Source: Movie Eye | comment Comment
01/12/03
Frank Ochieng
Frank Ochieng
Movie Eye

An empty exercise, a florid but ultimately vapid crime melodrama with lots of surface flash but little emotional resonance.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
12/23/02
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
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Latest News for Narc

May 03, 2007: Smokin' Joe Has Seen a "Sin City 2" Teaser
And by "Smokin' Joe" I mean Crazy Joe Carnahan, director of action flicks like "Narc" and "Smokin' Aces." Seems that Robert Rodriguez recently... More...

August 18, 2006: Trailer Bulletin: The Insane "Smokin' Aces"
Last week I was all set to share the all-new and seriously energetic trailer for Joe Carnahan's "Smokin' Aces," but the official site went bye-bye before I could... More...

October 14, 2005: Andy Garcia Joins Carnahan's "Smokin'" Ensemble
Variety brings word that Andy Garcia will climb aboard director Joe Carnahan's "Smokin' Aces," am action-comedy that's already packing some solid star power. More...

August 12, 2005: Carnahan Starts "Smokin'" for Universal
"Narc" director Joe Carnahan has been tapped by Universal to helm "Smokin' Aces," from his own screenplay. The action thriller is set to star Ryan Reynolds,... More...

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