Some movies are hard to explain. They don’t fit in categories and tend to stand out. “Narc” is one of those films. Part police drama, part who-done-it and violent but not gory, “Narc” is a twisting mystery that leaves the audience guessing until the end.
The story centers around suspended narcotics officer Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) who is brought in to work with rouge cop Henry Oak (Ray Liotta). Oak’s partner was killed and the trail has gone cold and Tellis has to find out the truth behind the murder. Personalities clash but the two men’s search for peace drive them to the depths of Detroit’s drug scene.
“Narc” is a very dark film. It questions just how far an undercover officer can go before he becomes part of the problem and quits being the solution. “Narc” isn’t fast paced. No fast car chases or bloody shoot-outs. Oak and Tellis are both introverts, so their motives are exposed with flashbacks and monologues.
Technically, “Narc” stands out from many of today’s films. It looks good without the use of big explosions or “bullet-time.” The editing and camera work add to the film’s darkness. Its soundtrack works well and refrains from just sticking in whatever trendy song of the week the music gurus are pushing.
If “Narc” has a downfall, it could be the script. When the audience laughs at what a character says in a dramatic moment, something isn’t working. Luckily, the introverted characters are the saving grace. Patric’s character hardly talks and Liotta’s is either silent or yelling explicatives at people while brutally beating them.
Patric and Liotta turned in stellar performances with very complex characters. Patric in particular is totally believable.
Busta Rhymes also shows up for a great performance as Beery, a primary suspect in the case and a drug dealer.
“Narc” is a good film for people who like to think. The plot twists and turns and the truth doesn’t come out until the very end. Predictability flies out of the window and the audience is left second guessing every character in the film.
While it isn’t perfect, “Narc” gets a solid B rating. The good points overshadow the bad, but the film isn’t for everyone. Its dark and bloody. There is no fairy tale ending, and it totally grips the audience until the very last frame.
