Narc

Take a collection of clichés from every cop movie, shake them up with some derivatively styley cinematography, mix in great performances by Jason Patric and Ray Liotta and don’t tell the boys in Internal Affairs. Patric is a cop who was thrown off the force for a bad shooting, but then they bring him back in because he’s the only one who can solve this case. Honestly, has that ever happened in real life? He’s partnered with a maverick, a maverick I tells you, who does things his way, the department be damned. See, the maverick’s partner has been killed, (killed I tells you!) and they’re gonna catch the guys who killed him if they have to break every rule in the book. They even say just that: "if I have to break every rule in the book." Where is this book? If cops spend so much time breaking all its rules, what the hell good is it anyway? Did the guy who wrote this book do so just for dramatic effect? Anyway, Narc is entertaining enough, but do we really need more movies about dead partners, maverick cops, people who try to get out but keep getting dragged back in, rule-breaking, fear of Internal Affairs and drug deals gone wrong? I guess if we really do need such movies, then Narc is a pretty good candidate, because, in spite of the trite story elements, the acting is spot-on and the pacing is perfect. Just don’t tell the boys in Internal Affairs.