Gary R
Auditioning
- Joined
- Jan 23, 1999
- Messages
- 4
***On Saturday night my wife and I attended the premiere of the new Joe Carnahan indie, NARC. Joe is a Sacramento local who attended Cal State University, Sacramento (as did Tom Hanks) and first grabbed some attention with his "Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane" in 1998. He has chosen to stay home and avoid the L.A. scene, and opened his picture here as a charity event.
***A low budget (less than $ 2 mil) film, Joe nevertheless captured the talents of Jason Patric and Ray Liotta, along with Chi McBride and Busta Rhymes. The story line follows two Detroit cops, the older of whom (Liotta was well aged for this film) lost a partner in a drug deal gone bad. Patric's character had been involved in a bad shooting, was off the force, but brought back when the investigation into the cop's death went cold.
***This film is intense, very intense. The viewer cannot miss a minute without losing something that will come into play in the final scene. To get to that scene, however, one must travel a circuitous road with blind alleys and hairpin turns. When asked how many in the audience guessed the ending, only a couple of hands went up, and I doubt they were serious. This ending is NOT what you think it is going to be! The premiere was in a small, older art deco theater where this cop noir film seemed to fit like a glove.
***The film is graphic in its gore and not for the young, pregnant or weak of heart. If you enjoyed the likes of Memento and Reservoir Dogs you will LOVE this film. The opening sequence is one of the most intense and shocking scenes I have ever witnessed. Liotta (who also produced the pic) and Patric have great chemistry on the screen.
***My biggest problem with the performance was the sound. The soundtrack is driving, but either because of its volume or its underlying garbled nature, I lost much of the dialogue. My hearing is not good, but the others in our group had trouble too. Perhaps it was the old theater's sound system. Hopefully it will be cleaner by the time it hits the general population.
***The film has been purchased by Paramount for general distribution. Currently Lions Gate is the only logo on the posters (several of which I have added to my autographed swag collection). The buzz at the opening was that Tom Crusie helped get it sold to them, but who knows for sure.
***At the smaller after-show party I got the opportunity to chat with Jason, Ray and Joe. Jason has some interesting insights into the Hollywood crap machine, and has his grandfather's gift of pitching a one-liner. Ray was cordial, but not as outgoing as Jason. It was a most enjoyable evening.
***So, will I go see it again when it has that mountain covered with stars logo up front? You bet! ...and I suggest you go too if you want to see what Hollywood could be making, but indies do best.
Gary in Sacramento
***A low budget (less than $ 2 mil) film, Joe nevertheless captured the talents of Jason Patric and Ray Liotta, along with Chi McBride and Busta Rhymes. The story line follows two Detroit cops, the older of whom (Liotta was well aged for this film) lost a partner in a drug deal gone bad. Patric's character had been involved in a bad shooting, was off the force, but brought back when the investigation into the cop's death went cold.
***This film is intense, very intense. The viewer cannot miss a minute without losing something that will come into play in the final scene. To get to that scene, however, one must travel a circuitous road with blind alleys and hairpin turns. When asked how many in the audience guessed the ending, only a couple of hands went up, and I doubt they were serious. This ending is NOT what you think it is going to be! The premiere was in a small, older art deco theater where this cop noir film seemed to fit like a glove.
***The film is graphic in its gore and not for the young, pregnant or weak of heart. If you enjoyed the likes of Memento and Reservoir Dogs you will LOVE this film. The opening sequence is one of the most intense and shocking scenes I have ever witnessed. Liotta (who also produced the pic) and Patric have great chemistry on the screen.
***My biggest problem with the performance was the sound. The soundtrack is driving, but either because of its volume or its underlying garbled nature, I lost much of the dialogue. My hearing is not good, but the others in our group had trouble too. Perhaps it was the old theater's sound system. Hopefully it will be cleaner by the time it hits the general population.
***The film has been purchased by Paramount for general distribution. Currently Lions Gate is the only logo on the posters (several of which I have added to my autographed swag collection). The buzz at the opening was that Tom Crusie helped get it sold to them, but who knows for sure.
***At the smaller after-show party I got the opportunity to chat with Jason, Ray and Joe. Jason has some interesting insights into the Hollywood crap machine, and has his grandfather's gift of pitching a one-liner. Ray was cordial, but not as outgoing as Jason. It was a most enjoyable evening.
***So, will I go see it again when it has that mountain covered with stars logo up front? You bet! ...and I suggest you go too if you want to see what Hollywood could be making, but indies do best.
Gary in Sacramento