Narc Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
An undercover narc dies, the investigation stalls, so the Detroit P.D. brings back Nick Tellis, fired 18-months ago when a stray bullet hits a pregnant woman. Tellis teams with Henry Oak, a friend of the dead narc and an aggressive cop constantly under the scrutiny of internal affairs. They follow leads, informants turn up dead, Nick's wife is unhappy he's back on the street, Henry's protective of the dead cop's wife. Nick reads and re-reads the case file, broods, watches Oak's heavy-handed style, sometimes joining in. The brass want to close out the case, Nick and Henry stay on it, and bits of evidence point them to an auto body shop. What actually happened; will Nick ever know?
| Dan Leis | Elvin Dowd |
| Jason Patric | Det. Sgt. Nick Tellis |
| Lloyd Adams | Walter Dandridge |
| Meagan Issa | Little Girl |
| Lina Giornofelice | Jeanine Mueller |
| Alan C. Peterson | Freeman Franks |
| Karen Robinson | Liz Detmer |
| Chi McBride | Capt. Mitchell Cheevers |
| Booth Savage | Cecil Mitchum |
| Alan Van Sprang | Michael Calvess |
| Myles Donaldson | Tellis' Infant Son |
| Krista Bridges | Audrey Tellis |
| Ray Liotta | Det. Lt. Henry Oak |
| Thomas Patrice | Officer Marcotte |
| Joe Carnahan |
7.40 out of 10 (13051 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Gritty
posted on 16 Aug 2009The very first time I think that the adjective "gritty" accurately and rightfully describes a movie. Excellent film, very realistic, great ending (I hate those happy, sappy "Hollywood" endings). The appearance and style of both Patrick and Liotta were so far from other things we have seen them in it added a huge dose of freshness to the movie- I forgot that these two had ever acted in any other movie. Don't rent it- buy it!
Intense cop drama
posted on 08 Aug 2009Narc is the kind of movie that makes you forget the dark patches on both Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta's resumes. You remember Patrick in Rush, and forget about Liotta in Operation Dumbo Drop. The story is simple enough, and almost clichéd. When the trail on a murder investigation of a policeman goes cold, an undercover narcotics officer, Detective Sgt. Nick Tellis (Patrick), is teamed with loose-cannon detective Henry R. Oak (Liotta) to solve the case. It's old hat – the good cop teamed with a out-of-control cop – we've seen it in movies and on television for as long as there have been police dramas, but when it is treated with the kind of conviction and intensity that Liotta and Patrick bring to their roles it seems fresh and compelling. Both play cops who cross the line into unlawful behavior in order to do their jobs, and have both become tainted by their experiences. Narc explores what happens to a good cop when he is forced to break the law. Visually director Joe Carnahan captures the feel of the mean streets, using a grainy film stock and handheld cameras to underline not only the dirt, but the energy of the street and the sleazy underbelly in which these two men operate.Narc is a great cop movie, but it has a generic title, and a grainy feel to it that I don't think audiences will connect with because they want to see something glitzy, something happy, something that is going to make them feel a little better. Hopefully it's the kind of movie that will build a nice cult following on DVD.
Quite Brilliant
posted on 31 Jul 2009This film is stunning.I find it hard to review a film when it is as good as Narc . It's easy to critisise a bad film but to describe a cracker is not easy. Let me start with the acting.Jason Patric and Ray Liotta are outstanding and deserve to be up for an academy award for their roles.They look like they sweated blood playing their parts and it is the best paring i have seen in a long, long ,time. The direction is fantastic as you see right from the begining. The way you see through the cops eyes when he is running after the suspect is amazing, you actually feel exhausted and feel like you are part of the action and the last time i felt that way while watching a film was during Lock,Stock and Two Smoking Barrels when they lost at cards and the room started to swirl.Quite brilliant.
The story is great if not a little disturbing and uncomfortable , which is not a critisism and i cannot stress more that if you have not Seen Narc , DO SO! 10 out of 10.
Good directing/technique, but somewhat trite story
posted on 27 Jul 2009I have mixed feelings about this movie. On the one hand, I'm a big proponent of film technique; it's fascinating the myriad of ways a director can convey a story and the overall vibe he can give it depending on what techniques he uses. At the same time, any film *needs* story. In the end, a film made with the most creative and tasteful use of technique is of passing interest at best without a strong story to back it up. And that's sort of my problem with Narc.You can read the synopsis of the story above so I won't get into it here, but I'll say that this kind of gritty cop film noir just isn't too original anymore. That's not to say that the story is necessarily devoid of flavor, but it just didn't seem to do it for me; it didn't really grab me. At the same time, though, it does present some interesting tidbits, e.g., the portrayal of the lifestyle particular to an undercover narcotics officer and the inexorable descent into depravity. The overall seediness of the drug world is given to the viewer as especially brutal, albeit in somewhat brief flashes (and maybe that's for the best).The story, though a little tired, is augmented by pretty good film technique-- not mind-blowing, but good. The opening scene before the title screen in particular showcases nice cinematography, editing, and sound/sound editing. Elsewhere, sound is used to good effect as well, and overall the cinematography is tasteful and well-done. Occasionally, even things like the editing seem a bit too heavy-handed, but this probably won't bother many people who aren't picky bastards like I am.I'd say this is definitely worth renting, and if it had come out maybe 15 years ago it'd probably be groundbreaking. It's still a worthwhile view, just not worth buying.
Extra touches make this a good cop thriller
posted on 21 Jul 2009Narc is a superb example of how an average script with a minimal budget can be elevated to a great movie through the craftsmanship of the people who make it. The story is simple (and tight) but isn't anything you haven't seen before. It begins with an Detroit undercover narc's murder. The investigation of this murder comes to a dead end, so out of desperation a burned out ex-narc who left the force under tragic circumstances (Jason Patric) is offered reinstatement and a promotion if he can solve the crime.
He is teamed with a hell-bent detective (Ray Liotta), who also happened to be the murdered cop's best friend. Of course Patric's character gets more than he bargained for when he starts to uncover things that many people would like swept under the carpet. I won't spoil the ending, but suffice it to say there are a couple of surprises. Jason Patric plays the lead role with nuance and subtle emotion, and despite second billing behind Ray Liotta, the movie is all his. Liotta is also good as Patric's hell-bent partner, but his character is more of what you would expect in this kind of movie. Then again, maybe Liotta plays "intense" so well we forget just how good he is. For me, what set Narc apart was the careful attention given to detail. The wardrobe, locations, and dialog are gritty and totally realistic. The director does a great job of making the movie look real and the story flow well, and that couldn't have been easy because was obviously a low-budget film. One warning: Narc has a lot of graphic violence, and is not for the faint hearted. But if that doesn't deter you I would highly recommend this movie.
A great and intense film
posted on 17 Jul 2009A retired policeman must go back to service to solve an important case,but when they design him a robust detective as his partner,he starts having personal conflicts and when the investigation is advancing,he suspects his partner knows something about the crime.Yes,that sounds familiar but in the hands of a so talented director like Joe Carnahan the result is great,intense,thanks to the honest script and the excellent main performances.Narc has an unusual dramatic weight and very credible characters.This film is not a buddy movie;it's an intense confrontation between two experts with different motives to solve(or undercover)a crime.Jason Patric is a brilliant but underrated actor.In Narc,this excellent actor brings the best performance of his career.Ray Liotta is another excellent actor who brings a brilliant performance on this movie.Narc is a great and very intense film.I totally recommend it.
Best crime thriller in years.
posted on 11 Jul 2009Nick Tellis has been suspended for the accidental stray bullet that nearly killed a preagnet woman, months later Nick is assigned to work with hard-boiled detective, Henry Oak in a homicide investigation linking two dope peddlers to the death of a fellow narcotic officer.Cons: *A bit slow in most of the film's duration. *An obsense of any kind of action.Pros: *Gritty, brutally honest and a gem of a film to look at despite it's classification. *Nothing over the top like a Vin Disel, Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, Treat Williams, Mel Gibson, Tommy Lee Jones or Tom Cruise film.*This should really win an Acedemy Award or an Oscar, eh, eh? *The film features the highly talented Ray Liota and rapper, Busta Rhymes. *One of my all time favs.Verdict: 7.5 out of 10, "Gritty, burtaly honest and nothing too fancy."
Unique and visceral - a stunning debut from a talented film maker
posted on 29 Jun 2009This film set a record for the number of producer credits, because so many people got behind it to ensure it got made. And with good reason. It's quite probably the best independent feature I've ever seen.The opening shot of Detective Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) is quiet and brooding, and you settle down into your seat only to be blasted with a scene straight out of a nightmare, that ends with him shooting a junkie who found out he was a cop. He accidentally shoots a pregnant woman in the exchange. She survives but miscarries. Tellis is, of course discharged from the ranks and put on a disability pension, as once he is "brought up for air" (taken off active undercover duty) it is discovered he is also a junkie himself.Due to his "prolonged contact with the city's drug element" Nick is asked to read some files on a "dead-end" 60-day-old case of a murdered undercover narc named Mike Calvess (Alan Van Sprang). This leads him to be partnered with Calvess' best friend, a hulking, brooding, violent Detective named Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), who is going to "bag the m*therf*ckers that killed Mike", no matter what rules and regs he's gotta break to do so.This film stays tough and gritty throughout, it's full of disturbing little scenes of life in Detroit's (for lack of a better word) slums.Director Joe Carnahan blends soft, warm colours for the scenes of Tellis with his wife and baby boy, contrasting this sharply with fog-greys, muted blues and shadow for the scenes on the violent streets of inner city Detroit. It is this startling contrast that elevates this film beyond mere street-cop-thriller-chase etc to something akin to a masterpiece. The jump cutting can be a little distracting at times (twice i thought to myself, okay, I KNOW this character is imagining this, you don't need to remind me again with ANOTHER flash-cut to his concentrating eyes!) But I can forgive it, I mean, for a debut effort you gotta expect a couple of kinks, and to be honest it's not all that distrating, I didn't even notice til maybe my fifth viewing. And the film is just amazing. Patric gives the performance of his career as the troubled narc Tellis, dealing with an almost unhealthy obsession with the case while trying to keep together a new, young family and steer clear of his own demons that continue to haunt him as he delves once again into that brutal world. It's amazing how compelling he is to watch, even when he is saying nothing. When he does speak you believe every word. His wife, Audrey (Krista Bridges) struggles to understand, and rightly so. She sees him slipping away again. Bridges is great, so real as she stands there, pleading with him as she watches him hold his 10 month old son. These scenes are not played for emotion - you actually feel a little awkward watching them, as if you have just walked in on a real argument between a real cop and his wife.Liotta is a powerful presence from his first moments on screen. The intensity in his eyes is at times frightening, yet he displays a depth beneath the rough exterior, exposes in snippets a past that was also warm, and brightly coloured, but has since given way to a cynical, consuming kind of rage.There is not a scrap of dialogue in the script that is not relevant to something else that is said, or that occurs later in the film. It's great to pick up on these, as well as all the subtle glances Tellis and Oak give each other at key moments.The commentary track is a really nice mix of "production talk", and a very informative expansion of some interesting character moments and storyline elements that really enhanced my enjoyment of the film when viewing it again. Carnahan is extremely talented and I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
Well Made But Flawed
posted on 13 Jun 2009NARC is a well made cop film and even though all the cliches are there, Carnahan does a great job of shaking up the genre. Liotta gives a towering performance and even though I usually can't stand the sleepwalking dead-eyed work of Jason Patric he delivers here. A strong acting job and even though there are too many shots of tortured introspective cops looking out at the water and too many scenes with the suffering wife begging the cop to give up his dangerous work, the RASHOMON quality to the story does work and it is a powerful film.
Believe everything except your eyes
posted on 04 Apr 2009For about 80 per cent of its run time, "Narc" is an engrossing--if not particularly transcendent--police procedural delving into the dark hearts of its severely flawed protagonists: Nick Tellis (Jason Patric, seemingly channeling a young Al Pacino), an undercover narcotics agent with a stormy past of addiction; and Henry Oak (Ray Liotta in a commanding comeback performance), a cop driven to the brink of obsession by the murder of his longtime partner, Michael Calvess (Alan Van Sprang). After Tellis botches a bust, slaying the perpetrator but causing a pregnant woman to lose her unborn child, he is assigned to investigate Calvess's murder alongside the increasingly unhinged Oak. While that snippet of plot description may sound like nothing new (and it really isn't), writer-director Joe Carnahan ("Smokin' Aces") is sneaky (without cheating) in the way he maps out the film--while the narrative is essentially a series of encounters between Tellis, Oak, and the lowlifes who associated with Calvess's undercover narc, he knows how to keep details hidden until the point where they will make the most sense, and impact the viewer hardest. While the details of Tellis's and Oak's private lives threaten cliché (it's really the film's most glaring flaw), it is overpowered by Carnahan's own frantic style (indeed, he seems just as wrapped up in the chase toward the truth) and the gung-ho performances of Patric and Liotta. The final 15 minutes of "Narc"--with its maddeningly overlapping yet contradictory points of view--is an intense, masterful display of technique and performance (including a surprisingly decent turn from Busta Rhymes), to the point where the ending we're given still can't be met with less than a skeptical eyebrow, and this is what pushes "Narc" from a run-of-the-mill cop thriller into something more resonant. Well done.
One word...INTENSE
posted on 31 Mar 2009Narc is one of those rare movies you don't see to often with good in your face action and acting. Starring Ray Liotta and Jason Patric this movie is a must see and worth watching especially if you have Ray Liotta in it who delivers a solid performance as he usually does, and Jason Patric does a pretty good job as well. The plot is tricky which of course deals with Narcotics (Narc) for short, and will have you guessing who actually killed the cop in the end it's intense. The directing wasn't bad,but it wasn't all that good either. The acting is what saved this movie the most, but it does have it's boring parts here and there.Overall if your a Ray Liotta fan or just wan't to catch good one on one scenes that keep you in suspense than Narc is for you, but it's just to bad it didn't released to more screens worldwide.
A brutally honest and well acted cop drama
posted on 31 Mar 2009Narc is not a film for everyone. It deserves the R rating it got. It brutally depicts police violence, and yet I couldn't look away. The great acting job made me feel more like I was in the movie than watching it. Every performance was completely believable, and the storyline was unpredictable. But this is, like I said, not for everyone. The story is told in such a gritty way, that it is almost depressing. There is absolutely no happiness in this film, but then again, it is a cop drama. I believe that this is a better movie than Training Day, and never has, and probably never will, receive the recognition that it deserves. But maybe my opinion is different than the general public. But overall, this is worth watching by anyone, and worth owning for fans of the genre. It is, in my mind, up with the greatest cop dramas, like Serpico. 9/10
Lifelike police drama, done on a minimal budget, with rich performances.
posted on 29 Mar 2009This is a hard-edged movie with a tough, clinical style reminiscent of the hardboiled crime films of the 70's. Liotta gets an opportunity to give a tour-de-force performance and he's backed up terrifically by Patric. The amoral and abusive tone of the movie are a welcome change from the blandly moralistic or cute buddy-cop flicks Hollywood generally churns out.
Carnahan deserves the recognition he's getting for writing and directing this independent genre piece.
Gritty, Brutal, Thrilling!!
posted on 29 Mar 2009This is a thriller to end all thrillers. It is sweat-inducing, heart-pounding, bloody, brutal, and so energetic you will be tired after the film has ended. Directed by Joe Carnahan, `Narc' is a movie that dresses itself nicely instead of delivering its conventions. Ray Liotta is a memorable and intimidating cop who lost his partner (Alan Van Sprang) and now desires vengeance upon the savage killer. Jason Patric is solid as an undercover narcotics officer returning from retirement to seek the cop killer. The two become partners to once again reemerge themselves in the drug world, fight mental scars, and ultimately find redemption in working on the behalf of Sprang's widow and children. The movie is definitely not for all tastes. The violence is heavy-handed and shocking in several ways.
However, there has never been anything like it, and for that, it deserves a watch. Surely it will leave you breathless, cold, and shocked to the bone.
The movie is directed with style and the use of the hand-held camera and snappy editing create an appropriately gritty effect. Not to be missed!
OUTSTANDING
posted on 17 Mar 2009I just viewed this film today. I have been a "COP" for the last 25 years. been through what Patric's character in the film went through, even worse. I have never seen it portrayed any better. When his wife says to him, "find something else to do" his reply "What would that be" I have always loved this man's acting, but this is his best. Liotta is also outstanding. I lost a partner myself once (1986)it still hurts like hell.. his drive and anguish is right "on the money" I don't watch very many "cop" movies. most are so full of Hollywood B-------! this is one to watch over. This one "touched home" SEE THIS ONE if you don't see anything else this year. It will be copied but not done any better.
Taut elevation of the entire crime drama genre
posted on 01 Mar 2009`Narc' is a spectacularly accomplished, taut piece of filmmaking that doesn't just explore the cop-criminal dichotomy, but comes close to elevating the entire crime drama genre.The oft-underrated Patric turns in his second-best cinematic performance, after the disturbed misogynist he portrayed in Neil LaBute's `Your Friends and Neighbors'. Here, he shows tremendous dramatic range, exuding paralyzed panic over a pregnant woman he inadvertently shot, cold contempt before an IA board, and desperate disbelief as he discovers the truth behind his search.Liotta is barely recognizable, his curly hair shorn and once-angular features obscured by a layer of cellulite and a goatee. Yet, rather than bloated, Liotta's girth gives him a hulking presence, towering over everyone in his path. Oak's volatile fits, uncontrollable flurries frightening realistic in their ferocity, further his larger-than-life stature.Frankly, although I've never been much of a fan, this may be Liotta's finest performance ever (yes, I'm counting `Goodfellas').You may go away disappointed if you look for something profound in `Narc's' ultimately simplistic, often forced storyline. The convoluted plot falls in on itself at several junctures, notable its latter stages.Attempts are made to explain Tellis' need to solve Calvess' murder, but not to the extent of justifying the excessive obsession he develops. And, Oaks' motives and choices seem semi-illogical in light of the story's ultimate resolution.But, these fine points are lost within Carnahan's deft, gritty work. His direction bears similarities to both Michael Mann and Steven Soderbergh, though that comparison risks failing to give proper credit to Carnahan's unique and individual abilities.Carnahan crafts a setting and characters that are palpable in their authenticity. Foot chases shot using a hand-held camera are dizzyingly real. A shroud of metallic blue hues accentuate Detroit's cold exteriors, the same device Steven Soderbergh cast over the Motor City in `Out of Sight'.For good measure, Soderbergh-standby Cliff Martinez supplies a haunting score that compliments `Narc's' atmospheric world, where cops not only play robbers, but sometimes succumb to basest instincts and become their prey.In the film's last stanza, as Oaks violently `interrogates' a drug-and-gun dealer played by Busta Rhymes, we barely see the famous rapper's face. The lighting only allows us to see a black, anonymous silouette, a convenient target. Carnahan somehow makes us feel sympathy for a two-bit hood who would rather shoot a cop than go to jail. Carnahan transports the audience into a narc's universe, inverting our views of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, retribution vs. justice.`Narc' may not break new ground, but it skillfully adapts an old narrative structure. Perhaps most importantly, it introduces us to a promising, skilled filmmaker whose best work, (hopefully, for our sake) is ahead of him.
Not just another good cop, bad cop movie. How true is truth? There's more than meets the eye.
posted on 13 Feb 2009This is affliction - almost a psychological study of a narcotics kind. A gritty tale of undercover cops.
How deep does a cop go undercover? What is the price of going deep undercover? Losing a partner, family loved ones, and your own well-being - not without the agony of recurring self-blame? Perhaps implausible to some, yet the feelings can be real. This is a raw energy-filled yet sensitive film. It's NFE: may not be everyone's cup of tea - rather strong, dark, and bitter at times.Jason Patric portrays the central figure Detective Sgt. Nick Tellis. A dedicated undercover narcotics officer quite afflicted, struggling to get out of his haunting agony from on the job memories. He has a wife and baby, but his work is consuming him with no time for family. Krista Bridges plays Audrey Tellis. The few scenes we see her are enough to echo (in hind sight) that being a cop spouse who rants and worries over the husband's intrusive work life, she does know him well: Nick's really not a good fit for his chosen job. Ray Liotta (also one of the film's producers) is astounding in his portrayal - so highly charged, without qualms appearing as abhoringly tough, easily incensed narc officer Henry Oak. In a way, his character is sad, burdened with guilt on losing his partner Mike Calvess, who'd gone so deep undercover to the point of no return. (On the job induced drug addiction? A pathetic situation that reminded me of Jason Patric's earlier film, directorial debut of Lili Fini Zanuck's "RUSH" 1991, with Jennifer Jason Leigh as a pair of undercover narc officers.) TRUST is so elusive - takes time to build and hard to hold on to. It is tormenting for Patric's Nick: does he believe his superior's comments about Liotta's character, or go with his gut feelings? When the real action happens, his mind is so cluttered and confused - is he capable of reading his own feelings/judgment towards Henry, towards the drug dealers… What is he supposed to think? What is he supposed to do? I have not seen writer-director Joe Carnahan's "Blood, Guts, Bullets, and Octane" 1999. Here in "Narc", there are elements/segments that pay tribute to Japanese film master Akira Kurosawa's "Rashomon" 1951 - three versions of an incident retold: the reluctant cop (harrowed and impassive?), the drug dealing criminals (liars or for real?), the veteran cop (truth or is it?). Cinematography by Alex Nepomniaschy (w-d Todd Hayne's "Safe" 1995) is artistic, with thoughtful angles and creative framing that somehow rendered the violent dark subject more humane. Music by Cliff Martinez (veteran collaborator on eight Steven Soderbergh's films) is subtle, complementary to the moods of the film. Editor John Gilroy (w-d Gavin O'Connor's "Tumbleweeds" 1999, w-d Ann Hu's "Shadow Magic" 2000) contributed his skilful craft seamlessly - the baby to (Patric and) baby scene for example.Carnahan's writing included details of the dilemma the narc cops are facing - frustrating inner conflicts, living with shadows of family breakups and recurrence of nervous breakdowns. Kudos to his direction and the cast and crew. More power to Sundance ("adventure in possibility"), and bravo to the support from Tom Cruise, who helped executive produced this film through his own Cruise-Wagner Productions, with Lions Gate Films and Paramount Pictures.
Not your average cop-thriller
posted on 18 Jan 2009Narc (2002) is not your average cop-thriller. This film is gritty, dark, and at times even disturbing. You can tell that by watching the first five minutes. But, Narc manages to tell a compelling story with sympathetic characters. The premise is this:Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) is an undercover narcotics officer who has been fired recently when a drug bust went horribly wrong, specifically ending when a stray bullet hit a pregnant woman and caused her to lose the baby. He's offered a chance to come back to his old police department, but he first must do something for them: solve the unexplained murder case of undercover officer Michael Calvess (Alan Van Sprang). So Tellis teams up with Calvess' old partner Henry Oak (Ray Liotta), who's not really stable and can become increasingly violent. The case begins to effect Tellis' home life and he becomes obsessed with finding out the truth. Oak just wants to kill the people who killed Calvess. What is the truth? What exactly happened to Calvess? Watch and find out.Narc is perfect on every level: acting, writing, directing, e.t.c... Ray Liotta does a truly awesome performance as the unstable Oak. The best thing about his performance is that you actually care about his character and you find that his actions are kind of justified. Jason Patric also does a great job as Tellis, who's also going over the edge. The twist and the truth surrounding the murder will leave you breathless. You won't see the ending coming. Joe Carnahan did a great job writing and directing. Definitely check this out not only for the story but for the brilliant performances.10/10
Good acting but depressing to watch.
posted on 12 Jan 2009I'm not going to say that the acting in this movie is bad because it's not. In fact, both Jason Patrick and Ray Liotta give stellar emotionally charged performances. However, when I was done watching this, I found myself in a kind of depressed slump. I guess that's what they were shooting for so maybe it succeeds in a way. For me though, if you spend a couple hours of your life watching a movie, you should get at least a little enjoyment out of it, which I didn't. If you enjoy being depressed, watch this movie. 5/10
`Training Day's' street-wiser brother
posted on 26 Aug 2009Narc is an excellently written, directed and acted piece of entertainment. Its comparisons with the Denzil Washington vehicle `Training Day' are obvious but this is a much darker, streetwise version.I was captivated by the tale of haunted narcotics cop Nick Tellis (Jason Patric) who gets dragged back into the field and teamed up with renegade lieutenant Henry Oak, whose partner was brutally murdered while working on an undercover drugs operation - and who will stop at nothing to catch the people responsible.As the story unfolds it gets clearer and clearer that things aren't what they seem, and I must admit that the ending was no real surprise. A very good cop thriller all the same and, although not quite as good as `Training Day' it provides great hard hitting entertainment topped off with a mesmerising performance by the always watchable Ray Liotta.