Narc

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

Directed by: Joe Carnahan

RS: 3of 4 Stars

2002 Drama

This gritty, no-frills cop flick, sticky with the scum of Detroit's drug underworld, really comes through on DVD. Good thing. Despite raves, Narc was virtually ignored at the box office. Ray Liotta deserved an Oscar nomination that never materialized as a hotheaded detective teamed with an undercover cop (an implosive Jason Patric). Writer-director Joe Carnahan has a ballsy energy that extends to the DVD commentary. On tap to direct MI-3 for Tom Cruise, Carnahan may yet be tamed by Hollywood. In Narc, he's still a wild thing.

PETER TRAVERS
(July 2, 2003)