Review of Narc (2002) by Lee B — 10 Mar 2010

I thought that this was a terrific look at the intense relationships between cops in the narcotics field. Nick Tellis (Patric) is a narc who is offered a route back to the job after spending 18 months out after a drugs bust went wrong. Henry Oak (Liotta) is the partner of the cop whose death Tellis is asked to investigate. Inevitably, the two are paired and the investigation that ensues reveals as much about their bids for redemption as it does about the case. The raw style of production and the wintery conditions contribute to the no-frills shoot.

The screenplay is first class, but it can only achieve its impact with good direction; which is great here in its ability to colour our perceptions of where morality lies between the two cops. The strength of the performances is evident in the presence of one or both of the leads in each scene and, the unrelenting drive to the conclusion. A really good film that is thought provoking.