Review of Bringing Out the Dead (1999) by Rajiv 2 — 23 Oct 2009

"The city doesn't discriminate. It gets everybody." An underrated masterpiece, Martin Scorsese's Bringing Out The Dead is a bleak, extremely dark drama/comedy. An onscreen credit states that the film "takes place in New York City in the early '90s", but it's not needed - the sense of place and time is evocative and vivid; Paul Schrader's script is excellent, as is the dreamy, beautiful photography from Robert Richardson.

There are no 'show-stopping' moments here since every scene has something extraordinary happening in it, be it a performance, a framing technique, or a small irony in the script, though certainly the "Red, Red Wine" sequence is especially remarkable.

And, ohmygosh, Nicholas Cage is astonishingly good, giving a layered, nuanced, haunted performance of great depth. The words 'starring Nicholas Cage' often make me shudder, but he's brilliant here (please can someone make him sign an exclusive contract with Scorsese?), and in fact all the performances are exquisite, with Patricia Arquette a stand out.

Considering how (potentially) depressing Dead is, it doesn't half move at a stonking pace - I actually felt a little breathless when the end credits rolled. Very highly recommended.