This movie is incredible. It is about a narcotics officer who is murdered, and the investigation that follows. The way it is shot is very gritty and raw. All around a great flick

Jason Patric and Ray Liotta pull out all the stops in this intense and action-packed, high end crime drama. Teaming up to find the killers of a fellow officer, these detectives move forward with voracious appetites for justice at any cost. But even then, not everything is what it seems leaving one detective to question the motives of the other. Do not miss this honest, bare-knuckled urban tale.

To hell with Training Day, Copland, SWAT, or any other crappy (but more popular) cop movies. This one is brilliant.
The director(Joe Carnahan) takes a much different approach to filmmaking than I've seen. Here's what I mean-
Opening scene, theres a foot chase through the neighborhood. No steady-cam shot with perfect balancing, lighting, crisp images. The camera guy appears to be sprinting along with the chase. It is awkward, choppy, and off-center which really plays into the frantic mood of this scene. I loved it, very unique!
Another moment I remember, the two cops are investigating, asking people questions. It's filmed showing them both working with a full screen format, then goes to wide screen format, then dual split-screen, then finally a six screen depiction of the investigation. It looks so cool, big props to Joe C!
Another special thing about this movie is the casting. SO PERFECT. Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta couldn't have been replaced by anyone and even came close. Speaking of them two, you just won't see better acting performances than in this film. Seriously. Can you say Oscar snub?
The story itself moves with passion and rich detail, I love the intensity.
Finally, someone said they didn't like the ending. PPPuulleeeease!!! I won't give it away, but the ending is Awesome with a capital A. It will blow you away like a political intern. Don't rent this movie, Narc is a must own. The ultimate sleeper flick!

Narc is a great movie. I think the acting is played out VERY good, and the storyline keeps you interested until the end.

Ray Liotta stands out the most acting wise to me. Jason Patric falls right behind doing also a great job in acting. The story kept me interested, you want to know the next move theyre going to make. This movie is based around criminals and the drug underworld. Liotta and Patric team up to find out who was really behind everything that went on around Calvess.

I highly recommend this movie, its entertaining and keeps up the action. There are quite a few twists in the movie, more towards the end so pay attention so you can see whats really going on.

Overall, I give this movie about a 4.5/5. I thought the ending could have been a little different since I don't think it really led anywhere. But check this movie out you wont be dissapointed.

This is a case of an independent film making good. The story goes that Tom Cruise read it, fell in love with, and threw his considerable resources behind a small film and director from Sacramento, California that noone had ever heard of. This film makes Training Day seem like a children's story, and is a must see addition to fans of films like Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Boondock Saints. You're not a true film buff if you haven't seen this film.

Too few people saw this when it first came out. Who can blame them? It's dark, the opening is terrifying in its implications, and people like happy movies with happy endings that tie up neatly with a little red bow.

If that's your thing, look elsewhere, Smiley. This ain't a Disney flick.

Two fine actors, especially that Ray fella who needs to be in more films, take a story that never reveals too much of itself until necessary, and make it work. Corruption, drugs, honor, lies and partnership come together in a tale which ends on a very open note (another reason some people didn't like it). Is it a pleasant tale? No. But it is highly compelling.

This is how cop movies should be made. Of course, "Miami Vice" is at the theatres as I write this, so apparently some people haven't gotten the memo.

I was lucky enough to see this in the Bigscreen it was in our area for only 1 week then was taken out of circulation ,and I was very impressed at the Gritty realism,this is Jason Patrics finest role and Ray liotta is Superb ..check out the interview with William Friedkin on the DVD ,and like he said this Movie should have won several Oscars ...I have to Agree.
ps ...Busta Rhymes ...has Talent and his role in this movies is proof.

This movie went largely unnoticed in the theaters. But it is a fine and well acted movie. Ray Liotta is often noted for his work in NYC/Jersey crime dramas like 'Copland' or 'Goodfellas' but he gives a great performance here as an intense Detroit Homicide cop. I was born and raised in Detroit so I have seen how most movies miss when it comes to portraying the real Detroit (the Detroit scenes from the ridculous Beverly Hills Cops movies for instance). This movie gets it exactly right. Detroit cops and crooks do not look or act like persons from NYC or LA and the film takes the time to show that.

NARC was filmed in the winter and you can see how the car and bus fumes change the snow from white to dreary gray. Actually everything appears gray and bleak. The action scenes, much like real life violence, are very frenetic and chaotic. The screenplay focuses on new partners Nick Tellis(Jason Patric) and Henry Oak(Ray Liotta) as they form an uneasy alliance to close the case of a murdered police officer who may or may not have been corrupt. The screenplay, acting, directing are all first rate.

I usually hate "shaky-cam" sequences, particularly when directors decide that they are going to use them in every other scene in order to make it feel "raw." But the "handheld" camera scene of the footchase that opens this movie is positively one of the coolest sequences I've seen. It is textbook perfect. I purchased NARC for an incredibly low price and was not expecting much. However, it was clear from the opening few minutes of the film that my low expectations were about to be shattered.

I don't have a whole lot to say about NARC that hasn't been elaborated on already by Amazon reviewers. It is a good film and a great cop film. Its storyline is compelling and explores both of its main characters adequately. Most electrifying is Ray Liotta, who is just magnificent in this film. I've never seen him this good (or looking this old for that matter).

As a second effort, Joe Carnahan has given us quite a good picture, especially considering his budget. I hope to see more things from him in the future. Until then, I can only recommend that you see NARC and snatch up this DVD. It's well worth it.

Narc was an incredible film. I guess you can say I have a liking for cop dramas and this movie didn't fail to deliver. The acting was incredible to where I felt the character's anger/sadness etc..., also. The twist in the end (not that I'll give it away) was well-crafted and surprising. I highly recommend it for anybody who likes cop dramas or the like, or even good movies that have depth. Worth buying, as I bought it myself and enjoy it to this day. Note though; it does have a great deal of violence and a lot of cursing, but that's what makes it all the better.

Ray Liotta delievered such an unbelieveable performance that I was in disgust with the academy when he wasn't nominated for an Oscar!
Narc is about the down and dirty streets of Motor City, Michigan and how they work. Now in this film Liotta plays a cop gone bad because to many things went wrong in his life and I'll let you find out what on your own as you watch the film. While Patric is basically just a good tough as nail's cop who just wants a transfer from undercover detective to a simple desk job for he has seen to much and his wife wants him at home now that they have a child. However this all ends up going down the toilet when Patric starts to find out how dirty Liotta is. Yet then again the witnesses of the crime case could just be lieing for Liotta has his own story that makes sense as well. So after all the sudden twists and turns are over and Patric finally get to the truth the most unexpected thing happens ,which I can't give away and that's where my review ends. To get to the bottomline I really suggest if you liked Training Day, Dark Blue, or Heat buy Narc or at least give it a try as a rental. **** out of 5 stars

NARC isn't really a PLEASANT movie to watch. It's about a lot of angry, messed-up people spending a lot of time sweating and under-stress. It's set in wintry Detroit, and the film has been processed so that all the exterior shots are tinted in blue, making the whole thing a little ugly to look at.

But it has a raw power and anger that feels genuine. This is a story that shows how people with good ideals and good intentions can nonetheless through their own frailties and lack of foresight make a royal mess of things. In this case, we're dealing with a couple of VERY troubled cops, thrown together to solve an ugly case...at least, it's ugly politically. Jason Patrick portrays a somewhat younger cop, who's been in some sort of suspension since a shooting went horribly wrong. The opening scene of the movie shows this foot chase and the unpleasant aftermath, and it gets us jumpy right away. We hear the heavy breathing, the camera work veers far from using a Steadi-cam, and when people get hurt, they howl and scream and carry on much more like you'd expect "real" people to do. Patrick is given a shot at redemption if he will partner up with Ray Liotta to help solve the murder of Liotta's partner. Reluctantly the two team up. Each clearly respects that the other person is an experienced, capable cop, and they have an easy coming together as COPS. When they break into an apartment, or interrogate a witness, they work together with practiced ease...they've both seen the same streets. But as INDIVIDUALS, they don't have much in common and make no effort to be friends. This is not a "buddy" movie. Liotta is simply seething over just about everything. He doesn't let anyone in...he's not looking for a friend or a new partner. He just wants the job done.

Patrick has always been one of those "internal" actors...few facial expressions, somewhat mumbling...not very high energy. In NARC, we see this "passive" side of him...but we also get to see him let loose with some good histrionics. It lends his quiet side more depth...we know that he's just barely keeping it together. In scenes with his wife...who has no patience for his return to the dangerous life...we see how they've lost the ability to really communicate and listen to each other. They have a new baby they both clearly adore...but not much else. Patrick brings a natural sadness to those scenes. And in his police work, he lets his justifiable anger at suspects, felons, etc. carry the brunt of his personal anger. This might be his best performance ever.

Ray Liotta is frightening and frighteningly good. He's a spotty actor. Sometimes a hoot (SOMETHING WILD), sometimes simply excellent (GOODFELLAS) and sometimes generic (HANNIBAL and many others). Here he looks 10 years older than we've ever scene him. With his white beard and extra weight, plus thick layers of coats, scarves, etc...he cuts an imposing and dangerous figure. He's a walking time bomb...you can tell this before he even utters a line. Liotta has really integrated this character physically. He is NOT someone whose wrong side you want to be on. He also isn't trying too hard to keep his anger in check...it's right out there for all to see. He seems like he might be a villain, or even the now clichéd "corrupt cop," but there's a LOT more going on there. He's not a likeable guy, but he's still trying to do good, despite his own cynicism and disgust. You always hear stories of how police-persons get so jaded and depressed because of what they see in their work...well, Liotta is the best example I've seen on film of what this means. Patrick and Liotta are both ordinary guys...not brilliant detectives, not "the next in a long line of cops in the family," none of the usual archetypes we see in gritty police dramas.

The plot of NARC is a bit pedestrian, though. We follow the case easily enough, but the story seems to run a distant second to the characters. And the climactic scenes...while full of energy and intent...don't totally make sense from a strictly "why would he have done that" standpoint. It doesn't end with much of an oomph.

But let me be clear...the movie is worth seeing for the two lead performances. It's a very adult film, with lots of harsh language and graphic violence. It also has a dim view of the world. But it also positively bristles. If you liked stuff like DARK BLUE, you will probably like this.

i was recommended this from one of my friends and i am glad he pointed me in this direction. from the openning scene with the main character running after another guy. you have no idea what is going on and who these 2 people are, but you soon find out the main character is the cop chasing after a crook. the opening scene itself is unsettling and this movie isn't for the light hearted. i enjoyed it truely. yes, it is somewhat predictable at parts, but what movie isn't these days.

my favorite scene was where this crackhead didn't want to get out of his bathtub, so he put the crack into a loaded shotgun. then he lit it and took a hit and boom! you get the picture. i recommend this to anyone who likes cop dramas.

With the prevalence of police dramas on television these days, you'd think everyone would have had enough of this formula, but there's no denying that there's something engrossing about this dark tale of drugs, violence, murder, and guilt. Certainly this film recycles every cop cliché in the book: Jason Patric plays the ousted cop who's only hope to redeem himself is to solve this one big, high-profile case that no one else can handle, Ray Liotta is the out-of-control cop whose partner was killed, Patric's wife freaks when she sees him once again vanishing into his work, the upper echelon cops just want to see somebody take a fall and couldn't care less about justice... seems to me most of these were already old hat when Clint Eastwood was making cop films.

But in what should be considered a victory of style over substance, writer-director Joe Carnahan manages to keep the tension cranked up pretty high, and glue us to our seats throughout. For fans of thrillers, there are some powerful scenes of confused, lightning-paced violence, including the shocking opening sequence. True, the scenes between Patric and his wife were not only hackneyed but pointless, and probably should have been cut. True, the stylishly avant-garde camerawork was more often annoying than enlightening. And true, it doesn't really take much of an actor to continually register ill-concealed fury by yelling expletives (sorry, Ray).

But the biggest fault this reviewer found with the film was a logical flaw in the plot which completely cut the ending adrift. Without giving away too much of the conclusion for others, consider the point in the action where a perp has been caught (and killed) with the dead cop's badge in his apartment. The Chief and the Commissioner are ready to close the case, give Patric his job back, and everybody can go home happy - with about an hour's worth of film left. Why don't our "heroes" take them up on that offer? The fact that they don't makes the final scene completely unbelievable, and as such I suggest that viewers just enjoy the frenetic, visceral ride, and not try to solve the mystery.

This is a very good film. It's hard edged, tough to watch at times, surprising and intellectually interesting. I've gotten a little tired of so-called hard-edged films and tv dramas that are really a bit lame, not original, like cheap imitations of real life. This film doesn't feel like that. From the very first scene it's got you gripped. This stuff happens and even if it's a nightmare in some ways it's valueable to watch and consider. It unfolds like a crime thriller should, but the why's and how's are unique enough to mark it as special. And the two lead actors give great performances. Neither of them are prema-donnas. There's no Brad Pitt here. But Patrick and Liotta deliver the real thing - quality, understated and yet large acting. This is a treat really. I was surprised.

Based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews for Narc, I was prepared for this film to rise above the conventions that frequently plague the cop genre and tell an exciting, gritty story. Unfortunately, Narc disappoints- ultimately a victim to a filmmaker high on MTV-style gimmicks and low on craft.

The setup is familiar- not an inherently bad thing. A Detroit narc, Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) who accidentally shot a pregnant woman must investigate the death of a fellow narc in "one last job" to salvage his career and his unresolved obsessions. His partner, Henry Oak (Ray Liotta) is a hard-boiled, unstable man prone to violence.

Where the film errs is that writer/director, Joe Carnahan fails to give the audience a single character to relate to. The gritty violence of the first scene (a pregnant woman gushing blood from her womb)is soon underminded by the one-dimensional good-guy heroism of Nick. Carnahan's long, drawn-out shots of Nick thinking or contemplating ("about what?" I wondered) coupled with Patric's bland performance create a vacuum where there should be a firecracker, or at least some kind of charismatic force. In comparison with say, Willem Dafoe's cop in Mississippi Burning or Russell Crowe's Bud from LA Confidential, Nick is a total blank. Ray Liotta as Henry fares beter because his character is inherently better written. But in a long monologue about his dead wife, the danger and allure of Henry slips away. Liotta has one good scene where his pungent delivery of Henry's tirade against police bureacracy sounds profanely poetic. Otherwise, Liotta is basically left to scream the f-word and compensate for the nonexistent rapport between himself and Patric. Don't even get me started either on Nick's stereotypically beautiful and dull wife, Audrey, who predictably, wants Nick to stop the investigation and spend some quality time with her and their adorable tyke. Carnahan predictably soaks these trite family scenes in sentimental sunlight.

Carnahan's shameless sentimentality and moral obviousness is one-upped only by his lazy freneticism. Imagine Darren Aronofsky without the wit or sense of palpable horror. Split screens, ambient music, quick cuts, incessant flashbacks. What this essentially reveals is a well-deserved insecurity with his skill. In the course of the whole film (which feels quite long) there is one simply executed scene that I recall. And it is terrible. While Nick interviews the wife of the slain cop, Carnahan's odd dialogue and inappropriate framing reveal nothing and say nothing, leaving the audience with a load of dead space. From this scene it became clear to me that the rest of the film's hyperactivity was a device to layer its director's weaknesses in stylistic distractions.

Narc is an unpleasant film experience. It has little to say about cops, narcs, Detroit, relationships, or drugs. It failure as a genre film disappoints in an era where mainstream movies desperately need any kind of artistic jolt of credibility.

this film was COMPLETELY overlooked by any of the major film institutions in terms of the awards that it rightfully deserved. every single performance in the film was on par...even the archetypal junkies and police chief that arent in the film for more than a half an hour a piece. the direction was excellent..as well as the writing, and its no surprise that one man did both. Some may say that this director tried too hard at showing off his many styles of filming a scene (shaky camera's, blue lenses, etc)...but really, each technique was fitting to each situation.

I know that the production of the film was almost the reason for its downfall, due to a lack of steady pay for the cast and crew memebers, but thank whoever it is that you thank in these situations that this film didnt crumble in the end. Luckily alot of different people jumped on board after its unveling at Sundance (Tom Cruise, Ray Liotta actually produced it as well as act the role of a main character)
Let me just say this....don't even think for one second that this is a nice, campy, predictalbe, standard cop film where they wrap it up in the end......this is so much more than that. this movie is struggle, it's regret, the persuit of purity, and so, so much more. if it wasn't for the slapped-on label of a Paramount Picture, this is pure art. If this film did well in the box offices, its was simply because of the power and rawness of the film, and not over-marketing or late-night promos for 2 weeks straight on letterman, leno, and o-brian. OWN THIS AND CRY.....maybe not from joy, either.

I loved this movie. One of the best I've seen. Great performances and plot including the setting. Unbelivable performances by RAY LIOTTA and JASON PATRIC. Great action and a very huge twist at the end. If you like descent thriller/action movies, then watch this one. I think you should see this one as soon as you can. I belive this one is my favorite movie. GO AND WATCH IT. YOU WON'T REGRET IT ! ! ! !

This grabbed my attention from the start, taking me on a gritty ride all the way to the end. The strength of the film is both the acting and story. Nothing is glamorized or as it seems. Just when you expect things to work out a certain way, they don't! Well worth the viewing!

This was one of the most overlooked films released durring the year.If it wasn't for Tom Cruise having an interest in it,it probably never would have been released more than it was,or got the publicity it did....and would have just faded away.I've always been a Ray Liota fan,and he is fantastic in this film.Both he&Jason Patric have a great onscreen chemestry.The script was well thought out&written all the way down to the screenplay itself.Narc is an excellent cop/conspiracy dramma.The good cop/bad cop,and Jason Patric's character driven to find out the truth of what really happened.The story grabs you from the begining and spirals darkly to the end.There is no glamorizing of drug use in this film despite the title,if anything it illustraits what it does to someone and to families.I could'nt reccomend this film more.You won't be getting any happy,warm,fuzzy endings here...it is raw throughout and cuts to the bone at the end...this film should have been nominated for an Oscar.

Let me just say that these movies are usually not my favorite. I was suffering from insomnia and ended up watching this movie on late night cable. I was literally on the edge of my bed the last 20 minutes of this movie. I was impressed and touched with Ray Liotta's performance. And Jason Patric is excellent...as usual. I do wish they had explored the relationship with the abused girl/wife more though. A definite must see.

I am an avid watcher of movies, and "Narc" is one of the best cop films I have ever seen. Unlike most of its big-budget Hollywood counterparts, this film shows what I feel is a gritty and accurate account of what it is like to be a cop. Ray Liotta and Jason Patric play their roles to perfection, and since they are both such great actors they are able to play off each other to make their characters' shaky relationship work well.

Aside from the great, natural dialogue and excellent plotline, one of the things that I thought made this movie better than the standard cop flick is that the two main characters were actually made to LOOK like cops. Ray Liotta gained 25 pounds and wore a fat suit to give his character a more realistic, aged look, and Jason Patric looked sufficiently scuzzy, as he was portraying an undercover narcotics detective who was required to look like a criminal. What most Hollywood filmmakers don't seem to realize is that real cops don't look like Colin Farrell or Josh Hartnett, they look like real people who don't have the benefit of make-up artists and hair stylists, nor do they necessarily look like Playgirl centerfolds.

I would highly recommend this movie to anyone looking for a change from mindless big-budget explosion-fests like "SWAT" or "Bad Boys."

I always wanted to see this one, and I finally did. I was expecting a well made film, as I read very positive reviews about Narc. This movie is better than I could possibly have hoped for. It's bleak, realistic and it has a twist ending that will haunt you. GO buy this movie right now.

A disgraced cop, a wife who comes between a man and his job, a hard-boiled cop who'll do whatever it takes to bring in the perp responsible for his slain partner, police who use excessive force in an "ends justify the means" approach to solving crimes, cops taken off the case by a superior, conflict between police and other agencies, etc. We've seen it all before: Narc is not an exercise in originality. However, it sure is a fun ride.

Jason Patric and Ray Liotta give intense performances as police willing to do whatever it takes. Both are incredibly volatile and troubled individuals, and the portrayals by Liotta and Patric add great depth to characters who could easily be cardboard cutouts. Although I haven't seen anything else that Joe Carnahan has done, I was very impressed by his work as a director. Not since Darren Aranofsky's masterpiece have I seen a director so forcefully taken control of how the movie is looking, utilizing many different directoral styles without any of them seeming arbitary.

Although the ending leaves a lot of things ambiguous, some wisely and some foolishly (Patric's family is an integral part of the story, and the resolution of his personal life is never shown or explained) and occasionally the script moves towards showing rather than telling, this is a solid genre film, and much more than I expected. 7/10

I was really impressed with Narc. I was expecting a run of the mill good cop bad cop flick. Never judge a DVD by it's cover. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. This film was gritty and didn't spare the audience any reality for the sake of easy viewing. This film is filled with tragedy and suspense. Narc will have you hooked from the opening scene. The last 30 minutes of this film is as intense as any other I have seen.

Ray Liotta puts on what I would say is his best performance to date. If Denzel Washington was worthy of an oscar for Training Day so is Liotta for Narc. This film puts Training Day to shame. Jason Patric also puts on a great performance. I know he had to sort of step aside and let Liotta take the spotlight. I think that's actually what makes Jason Patric so great in this film. His ability to compliment Liotta's character while at the same time making his character almost equally appealing to the viewer is astonishing. There aren't too many actors out there nowadays that can do that or are willing to. Jason Patric's un-selfishness pays off big time.

I give Narc a well deserved 5 stars.

Jason Patric and Ray Liotta give the performances of their careers in this gritty, brutal and disturbing cop thriller. Patric plays Nick Telles, a suspended cop who is asked to help loose cannon Liotta find the people responsible for the killing of Liotta's undercover partner.
Unlike many other films of this nature, NARC spares no one in its unrelenting drive to locate the murderers. Joe Carnahan directs with a ferocity rare in major studio films, and elicits tremendous performances from the entire cast. Busta Rhymes in the last section of the movie surprised me with his harsh and effective performance. The language is rough, the violence is unnerving, and the overall atmosphere is so electrically charged, I felt uncomfortable with its realism.
Brilliant movie, overlooked by many. Highly recommended.

The camera moves in a certain style who reminds us to Aronofsky (Requiem for a dream) . The opening sequence chase is told in the pures documenal style hand nervous camera.
First at all Jason Patrick has grown up as an actor to keep in mind in futures releases . His performance is deeply complex , because he has three dragons to face ; one as husband for his eccentrities , another dragon is the weight of the blame as an involuntary murderer and the other is to find out who are ehind the murderer of a cop . Liotta makes an admirable work too . His rol is extraordinary well written . The dark atmosphere is a punch ; I mean : watch this artistic work , because the picture is much more than a simple case about dealers , cops and bad or good guys ; precisely this is a strong point to its favour ; nobod is innocent (like the real life). The film trascends itself to become progressively in a disturbing and provocative story . The angles shooting and the screen divided in four (previously used for Norman Jewison in he Thomas Crown Affair and more recently in The italian job) is amazing.
A very complex and perfect script support and makes of that film one of the best issues filmed in 2003 . There are shades of Serpico , Internal affairs and Dark blue but the film owns personality and too much to say.
Watch this!

Narc is one of the better cop movies in a long time.

Original scripts, good acting.

Narc is the brutal story of two cops both with violent past mistakes and have something to proove.Jason Patric gives the best
performance of his carrer.I'm glad he got this part because he
is terribly underated.His character Nick Tellis is an ex-under
cover narcotics officer you see why he gives that up in the beg-
gining of the movie in a very violent,and horrifying chase scene.
Well he gets a chance to get a desk job but he has to go back on
the street along with the brutal,profane Henry Oak(Ray Liotta)in
also probably his best performance he plays the role to well.I
can't beleive he was looked over at the oscars oh well.Oak and
Tellis are great together as a pair of outsiders so to say trying
to solve the crime of another slain narcotics officer who was
also Oak's partner and a good freind of his.So for Oak this isn't
a case it's a quest to find the killers of his partner and he
doesn't plan on reading them their rights.Tellis begins to suspect Oak and soon finds out secrets Oak doesn't want him to
know and The story slowly unfolds in it's bleak,unforgettable climax.Narc is the best cop movie of all time and it's a good
watch for mystery buffs.Now this movie is hardcore full of brutal
violence,Profanity(constant),drug use,bleakness,and just almost
a loss of hope nothing good really happens to any of the characters as you'll see

With recent documentaries, A Decade Under the Influence and Easy Riders, Raging Bulls, '70s American cinema is enjoying a resurgence and championed by critics as the last great decade of Hollywood filmmaking. Joe Carnahan is the latest filmmaker to draw upon '70s cinema for inspiration with his new film, Narc, an edgy drama about police corruption.

There are several extras included on the DVD that explore various aspects of Narc. First up is an audio commentary by the film's writer and director, Joe Carnahan and the film's editor, John Gilroy. The two men are obviously close friends as evident from the familiarity between them. They joke and talk about all sorts of anecdotal material about the making of the film. Carnahan, in particular, is very entertaining as he gives most of his comments a spin of self-deprecating humour.

"Narc: Making the Deal" covers the origins of the movie. Carnahan talks about how it started off as a short film inspired by Errol Morris' famous documentary, The Thin Blue Line (1988), about the murder of a police officer.

"Narc: Shooting Up" examines the limitations of working on an independent film. The production ran into all sorts of problems, including running out of money. Liotta and his wife spent time drumming up completion funds while the dedicated cast and crew continued to work without being paid.

The look of the film is explored in "Narc: The Visual Trip." Carnahan talks about how certain films were framed and composed.

Finally, "The Friedkin Connection" is a ten-minute love fest by the famous filmmaker who is clearly impressed by Carnahan's movie.

Narc is a gritty, character driven crime drama in the best tradition of '70s American cinema but given a contemporary stylistic update that is reminiscent, at times, of the films of Michael Mann (Thief) and Steven Soderbergh (Traffic). Paramount has done a fine job packaging a pristine print of the movie with a nice collection of extras that are a notch above the usual fluff, promotional pieces that are created for recent films.

Does anyone here remember Speed 2? No? Good. becuase anyone who has seen that film will find if hard to believe that the wooden, stiff and stilted actor (not Sandra Bullock) in the lead role is the same as the one in this small time independent masterpiece. but, and i assure you, it is.

Jason Patric is brilliant as the guilt ridden cop on a last case, bringing depth to the character and making the viewer feel for him when he encounters both the good and the bad through the course of this movie.

So too is Ray Liotta, whose Henry Oak character is one of the most impressive "cop on the edge" characters since they first started doing movies about cops on the edge.

The supporting cast is good too, especially the police chief character, the infected informant, and Busta Rhymes's near-cameo as one of the suspects.

The director also helps things along, shooting it with a gritty, almost noirish colour, and making good use of editing and flashbacks, and he keeps the action from getting over the top, letting the characters fire off far more than the weaponry, with a great soundtrack to boot.

This film was produced by Tom Cruise, and it actually reflects this: it's not very big, but is eminently watchable. independent film at it's best.

If that's your bag, then have at it. The respectable acting is really the only thing of redeeming value here and what saves this movie from a 2-star or lower rating. The cinematography at times tries to look hip and stylish but offers nothing we haven't seen before and seen done better. There's an OK twist to the story's ending, but getting there was where this movie stumbles. Two of the major subplots (the "bad" cop's internal affairs investigation and the conflict between the main character and his wife) basically go nowhere. En route to the climax, you're treated to some of the most over-the-top abuse of police authority you can imagine. Felony assault, felony property damage, illegal search and seizure, and false imprisonment for starters. I can't imagine how two cops could ever expect to deliver a prosecutable case when they obtain their evidence this way, let alone keep themselves out of prison. Those who believe all confessions are beaten out with a phonebook will find this right up their alley. Sorry to burst any bubbles, but that ain't the way it's done out there, folks. But procedural criticisms aside, the story just doesn't have the impact it strives for. Where's Michael Mann when you need him?

If you ever needed a reason not to go to Detroit, I think watching this movie makes me pretty well convinced that I would not want to. (8 Mile was also further evidence). The film is gritty and Detroit is a perfect backdrop for the gritty feel of the movie. Both of the main characters (played by Jason Patric and Ray Liotta) are driven by a sort of obsession. Liotta's obsession and zeal is not well understood until near the end of the film when it becomes clear that much of his "unorthodox" detective work is beyond just unorthodox. Patric is excellent as a cop brought back to active duty after an accidental shooting of a bystander on his previous assignment (for which he was placed on long-term suspension). Patric's character seems detached somehow, slipping further into his police role and further away from his disapproving wife (and their child together). (Patric's former assignment had been to go undercover and infiltrate the city's drug underworld, and apparently he had his own drug problems as a result. His wife stood by him through his rehab and naturally does not wish to see him slip back into this life). The film is not the most structurally sound as far as the plot goes BUT is saved by the superb performances of Liotta and especially Patric.

A very dark movie, but also entertaining. Good actors, and a surprise at the end.

This is not a glamorous movie. There are no fancy soundtracks to heighten your excitement, no ultra-adreneline pumped car chases to boost your blood pressure. However, the violence is realistic and will raise your awareness.

The story is great...former narcotics cop is drawn back into the force (to the destruction of his family)to solve a murder of a undercover narcotics officer. He's partnered ( his own choice) wt/ the victim's former partner, Oak, a hot-headed, rule-bending widower. Two cops wt/ diff agendas and back grounds ( both get personal in the end)to resolve the case of a slain officer. Two points of view.

Not a typical cop flick though, much more thought has been put into this one. It's raw-not for the average thrill seeker. Good movie, would watch it again.