Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Narc (2002)

 Narc (2002)
type
TVTItem
 Narc (2002)
label
Narc (2002)
 Narc (2002)
page
Narc2002
 Narc (2002)
comment
Narc is a 2002 crime film written and directed by Joe Carnahan in his first major film production. It stars Jason Patric and Ray Liotta.The film starts with an undercover narcotics officer Nick Tellis (Jason Patric), pursuing a drug dealer after his cover has been blown, ending in the death of the drug dealer as well as a stray bullet causing the miscarriage of a pregnant woman. Eighteen months later, Tellis is persuaded to investigate the cold-blooded murder of another undercover narcotics officer named Michael Calvess. He is partnered with another detective, Henry Oak (Ray Liotta). Nick Tellis tries to seek out the real reason for Michael Calvess's death behind his partner's back, and we are given a glimpse into the seedy side of police work in a poorer area. The film was well received, and made back twice its fairly modest production cost.For the Video Game from Williams Electronics, click here.
 Narc (2002)
fetched
2024-03-14T16:46:26Z
 Narc (2002)
parsed
2024-03-14T16:46:26Z
 Narc (2002)
processingComment
Dropped link to ChaseScene: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Narc (2002)
processingComment
Dropped link to ShaggyDogStory: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Narc (2002)
processingComment
Dropped link to WickedStepfather: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Narc (2002)
processingUnknown
WickedStepfather
 Narc (2002)
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Narc (2002) / int_14beeefd
type
Darker and Edgier
 Narc (2002) / int_14beeefd
comment
Darker and Edgier: This movie storms out of the gate with a jarringly violent scene of a drug deal gone wrong, and really does not let up at all on the negative energy stifling the entire film.
 Narc (2002) / int_14beeefd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_14beeefd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_14beeefd
 Narc (2002) / int_188668f2
type
Redemption Quest
 Narc (2002) / int_188668f2
comment
Oak's story is basically a Redemption Quest gone very wrong.
 Narc (2002) / int_188668f2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_188668f2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_188668f2
 Narc (2002) / int_19df659c
type
Gone Horribly Wrong
 Narc (2002) / int_19df659c
comment
Gone Horribly Wrong: Oak rescued a little girl from her abusive, meth-dealing stepfather, maintained a relationship with her as she grew up, helped her to get off drugs, and set her up with one of his fellow cops, who she ended up marrying. Then her husband got addicted to drugs, become horribly corrupt to support his habit, and ended up committing suicide. It's implied that Oak blames himself for this, and trying to find some way to set it right is a major part of what drives his actions.
 Narc (2002) / int_19df659c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_19df659c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_19df659c
 Narc (2002) / int_1dfd19f9
type
Papa Wolf
 Narc (2002) / int_1dfd19f9
comment
Papa Wolf: Oak is very protective of children, despite not having any of his own. He views Calvess' widow as his surrogate daughter, and will do absolutely anything to protect her, no matter how vicious he has to get.
 Narc (2002) / int_1dfd19f9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_1dfd19f9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_1dfd19f9
 Narc (2002) / int_1f4bb5b4
type
Let Me Tell You a Story
 Narc (2002) / int_1f4bb5b4
comment
Let Me Tell You a Story: Through casual conversation, Oak ends up telling the story of his wife's death to Tellis, and how ever since he's had no reservation in breaking the rules
 Narc (2002) / int_1f4bb5b4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_1f4bb5b4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_1f4bb5b4
 Narc (2002) / int_21d70919
type
Crapsack World
 Narc (2002) / int_21d70919
comment
Crapsack World: The film shows some of the most run down and poverty stricken areas of Detroit. The criminals commit almost every crime in the book and though the cops may not be bad guys themselves, they have NO problem at all breaking the rules to solve their cases.
 Narc (2002) / int_21d70919
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_21d70919
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_21d70919
 Narc (2002) / int_21f3aa44
type
Good Is Not Nice
 Narc (2002) / int_21f3aa44
comment
Good Is Not Nice: Tellis and Oak aren't exactly the movies' nicest cops.
 Narc (2002) / int_21f3aa44
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_21f3aa44
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_21f3aa44
 Narc (2002) / int_25524784
type
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown
 Narc (2002) / int_25524784
comment
No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Oak beats up a criminal with an eight ball inside a sock after he's been arrested. Oak also beats up Tellis when he begins to suspect him and challenge him. Not to mention the beating Calvess gets before he dies. When Darnell and Latroy mention that Calvess was a junkie who came to them three to four times a day to get a fix, traded police issued guns, badges, id’s, cuffs and vests when he didn’t have the money to get a fix and says that Oak planted Calvess’s gun in their car (which he did to frame them for the murder of Calvess) Oak wastes no time beating the both of them to a pulp to keep his plan from unraveling. When Oak tells Tellis the story when him and his fellow officers arrested a meth dealer at his house and the dealer was pimping out his 10 year old stepdaughter. Oak after putting her in the squad car went back in the house and “beat the motherfucker half to death� while he was ALSO in cuffs.
 Narc (2002) / int_25524784
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_25524784
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_25524784
 Narc (2002) / int_30ef2781
type
The City Narrows
 Narc (2002) / int_30ef2781
comment
The City Narrows: Many scenes take place in severely blighted areas that are barely inhabitable urban crime zones.
 Narc (2002) / int_30ef2781
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_30ef2781
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_30ef2781
 Narc (2002) / int_35a858b3
type
Cluster F-Bomb
 Narc (2002) / int_35a858b3
comment
Cluster F-Bomb: 297 of them to be exact but Oak stands out among the bunch. Almost every sentence he has includes an f-bomb.
 Narc (2002) / int_35a858b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_35a858b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_35a858b3
 Narc (2002) / int_372bc105
type
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism
 Narc (2002) / int_372bc105
comment
Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism: This is a cold and cynical movie.
 Narc (2002) / int_372bc105
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_372bc105
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_372bc105
 Narc (2002) / int_3f11ef74
type
Parental Substitute
 Narc (2002) / int_3f11ef74
comment
Parental Substitute: It is revealed that Calvess' widow is actually the little girl that Oak saved in the past. He mentioned that he'd wanted to adopt her, and even though he couldn't, he maintained a relationship with her for the rest of his life, seeing her as the daughter he never had.
 Narc (2002) / int_3f11ef74
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_3f11ef74
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_3f11ef74
 Narc (2002) / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 Narc (2002) / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: Tellis finally gets told the truth of how Calvess died during Oak's last moments of life, and it was all recorded on tape. He is left to choose whether he will give the tape to the police or not. The credits roll before he makes a choice.
 Narc (2002) / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_40cc0c7e
 Narc (2002) / int_440d1d0b
type
Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!
 Narc (2002) / int_440d1d0b
comment
Screw the Rules, I'm Doing What's Right!: The entire movie is a massive deconstruction of this trope. It's set such a terrible environment that getting anything done seems to require doing bad things for the greater good. But the further the protagonists go down that path, the worse things they end up doing, until the line between good guys and bad guys is almost nonexistent.
 Narc (2002) / int_440d1d0b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_440d1d0b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_440d1d0b
 Narc (2002) / int_4781adbb
type
Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 Narc (2002) / int_4781adbb
comment
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Both Tellis and Oak are willing to rough up and threaten suspects and Oak is fully willing to plant evidence and extract false confessions. But neither of them is acting out of any kind of greed, or desire for glory. Tellis is just trying to solve the case and be a good husband and dad. Oak is motivated by getting revenge for his partner, and is highly protective of Calvess' family.
 Narc (2002) / int_4781adbb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_4781adbb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_4781adbb
 Narc (2002) / int_53c9fc92
type
Flashback
 Narc (2002) / int_53c9fc92
comment
Flashback: There are many flashbacks to Calvess's death: some of them come from Tellis's imagination whilst others are showing potential scenarios of what really happened in that tunnel.
 Narc (2002) / int_53c9fc92
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_53c9fc92
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_53c9fc92
 Narc (2002) / int_64e975cf
type
Manly Tears
 Narc (2002) / int_64e975cf
comment
Manly Tears: Oak shreds them after Calvess commits suicide.
 Narc (2002) / int_64e975cf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_64e975cf
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_64e975cf
 Narc (2002) / int_6cbcd596
type
Gangbangers
 Narc (2002) / int_6cbcd596
comment
Gangbangers: Deacon, and Darnell and his buddy.
 Narc (2002) / int_6cbcd596
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_6cbcd596
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_6cbcd596
 Narc (2002) / int_71598ac8
type
Internal Affairs
 Narc (2002) / int_71598ac8
comment
Internal Affairs: Oak initially questions Tellis, making sure that he's not with Internal Affairs.
 Narc (2002) / int_71598ac8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_71598ac8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_71598ac8
 Narc (2002) / int_729c69f3
type
Politically Incorrect Villain
 Narc (2002) / int_729c69f3
comment
Politically Incorrect Villain: Oak lets out a major N-bomb while he and Tellis are shaking down Sheps the drug dealer at his apartment.
 Narc (2002) / int_729c69f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_729c69f3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_729c69f3
 Narc (2002) / int_77dd4ff0
type
Sliding Scale of Shiny Versus Gritty
 Narc (2002) / int_77dd4ff0
comment
Sliding Scale of Shiny Versus Gritty: Far, far on the gritty side. Narc focuses a lot on rough and poverty stricken areas.
 Narc (2002) / int_77dd4ff0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_77dd4ff0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_77dd4ff0
 Narc (2002) / int_8767b1f3
type
Black-and-Gray Morality
 Narc (2002) / int_8767b1f3
comment
Black-and-Gray Morality: Most of the criminals that Oak and Tellis encounter aren’t saints by any means but the two cops, especially Oak aren’t exactly the most morally upstanding cops themselves and they use very extreme methods to get what they want.
 Narc (2002) / int_8767b1f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_8767b1f3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_8767b1f3
 Narc (2002) / int_9c63108c
type
Friendly Fire Index
 Narc (2002) / int_9c63108c
comment
Friendly Fire: In the aforementioned chase scene, Tellis takes the risk of firing a number of shots whilst running when the drug dealer he's chasing takes a baby hostage. The drug dealer is killed instantly, but one of the other bullet ricochets and hits a pregnant women.
 Narc (2002) / int_9c63108c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_9c63108c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_9c63108c
 Narc (2002) / int_a1d70162
type
I Just Shot Marvin in the Face
 Narc (2002) / int_a1d70162
comment
I Just Shot Marvin in the Face: Tellis and Oak investigate a grisly scene with a headless corpse holding a shotgun in a bath tub. We find out that it wasn't a suicide, but an accidental discharge because the man was trying to use the shotgun as a smoking pipe and forgot it was loaded.
 Narc (2002) / int_a1d70162
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_a1d70162
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_a1d70162
 Narc (2002) / int_a89efdf8
type
Wife-Basher Basher
 Narc (2002) / int_a89efdf8
comment
Wife-Basher Basher: Once again Oak is the king of this as he brutally beats a guy with an 8 ball inside of a sock for abusing his wife and child even though the guy was already arrested. Also the brutal beating he gives to a meth dealer for pimping out his 10 year old stepdaughter
 Narc (2002) / int_a89efdf8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_a89efdf8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_a89efdf8
 Narc (2002) / int_ac09dc0f
type
Alas, Poor Villain
 Narc (2002) / int_ac09dc0f
comment
Alas, Poor Villain: Oak's death is played rather somberly, especially since it's revealed as he died that all of his actions were to make sure Calvess's family would be taken care of. Both Darnell and Latroy. They are clearly criminals and bad people, who are also believed to be involved with the murder of Calvess. However, seeing them get tied up, helplessly harassed physically and verbally, then get beaten up by Oak (and once by Tellis, when he refused to believe their story) during interrogation, to the point they cried and begged for their lives after Oak starts firing his gun to get their confessions, makes it very hard for viewers to not feel any sympathy for them.
 Narc (2002) / int_ac09dc0f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_ac09dc0f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_ac09dc0f
 Narc (2002) / int_b8dbe475
type
Blood from the Mouth
 Narc (2002) / int_b8dbe475
comment
Blood from the Mouth: In the first scene where Nick is chasing a drug dealer during a blown undercover operation. The dealer stabs a random guy as he runs from Nick, and the dude groans in pain while gurgling up blood. It's brutal, unsettling, and effectively sets the tone early on for the rest of the film.
 Narc (2002) / int_b8dbe475
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_b8dbe475
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_b8dbe475
 Narc (2002) / int_babc974
type
Sadistic Choice
 Narc (2002) / int_babc974
comment
Sadistic Choice: Tellis is presented with one at the very end. He can either hand over Oak's taped confession, ensuring that the two dealers don't go down for a crime they didn't commit and that Calvess' wife and children get nothing. Or he can conceal the tape, letting the dealers take the fall while the widow receives Calvess's pension to support her and her daughters. The credits roll before he can make a choice.
 Narc (2002) / int_babc974
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_babc974
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_babc974
 Narc (2002) / int_bbfaa837
type
Knight Templar
 Narc (2002) / int_bbfaa837
comment
Knight Templar: Tellis somewhat, Oak much more so. Oak makes clear, from his first scene, that he's focused on his goal and will whatever it takes to get results. He lives up to his word, being absolutely willing to abuse his authority and break every rule in service to what he thinks is important.
 Narc (2002) / int_bbfaa837
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_bbfaa837
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_bbfaa837
 Narc (2002) / int_c02a3bf2
type
Imperiled in Pregnancy
 Narc (2002) / int_c02a3bf2
comment
Imperiled in Pregnancy: A major example at the beginning of the film. The man Tellis is chasing through the streets runs onto a local playground and grabs a pregnant woman's daughter. He uses her as a human shield while holding a syringe full of narcotics to her throat. Tellis, who is strongly implied to be high on the man's drugs at the time, fires several rounds at him while running frantically. He's able to kill the man and save the child, but he also hits the girl's mother in the thigh. We find out immediately after that this caused her to miscarry.
 Narc (2002) / int_c02a3bf2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_c02a3bf2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_c02a3bf2
 Narc (2002) / int_c10d1dcb
type
California Doubling
 Narc (2002) / int_c10d1dcb
comment
California Doubling: Toronto stands in for Detroit in some scenes.
 Narc (2002) / int_c10d1dcb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_c10d1dcb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_c10d1dcb
 Narc (2002) / int_c3585f4a
type
Boom, Headshot!
 Narc (2002) / int_c3585f4a
comment
Boom, Headshot!: The dead body they find in a bath tub had his head obliterated from a shotgun blast.
 Narc (2002) / int_c3585f4a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_c3585f4a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_c3585f4a
 Narc (2002) / int_cfbd1467
type
Never Suicide
 Narc (2002) / int_cfbd1467
comment
Never Suicide: Inverted. Henry Oak is investigating his friend's murder but it turns out he was covering up his suicide so that 1) his wife could receive a pension and 2) to frame the drug dealers who supplied him.
 Narc (2002) / int_cfbd1467
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_cfbd1467
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_cfbd1467
 Narc (2002) / int_d01cffbc
type
Badass Longcoat
 Narc (2002) / int_d01cffbc
comment
Badass Longcoat: Oak is sporting one throughout the majority of the movie.
 Narc (2002) / int_d01cffbc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_d01cffbc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_d01cffbc
 Narc (2002) / int_d6519b1b
type
Rabid Cop
 Narc (2002) / int_d6519b1b
comment
Rabid Cop: Tellis, a little; and Oak, much more.
 Narc (2002) / int_d6519b1b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_d6519b1b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_d6519b1b
 Narc (2002) / int_e154ff08
type
Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique
 Narc (2002) / int_e154ff08
comment
Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: When Oak and Tellis find the two guys that beat up Calvess in the tunnel, they are tied down to chairs and get increasingly worse treatment. Oak ends up punching both of them several times in the head and face and also fires a revolver close to their heads.
 Narc (2002) / int_e154ff08
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_e154ff08
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_e154ff08
 Narc (2002) / int_e2cbeee9
type
Gangsta Style
 Narc (2002) / int_e2cbeee9
comment
Gangsta Style: Tellis holds his gun this way after being taken by surprise for a couple of shots, and hits nothing. He then holds the gun normally and with his second hand for support manages to shoot Darnell in the leg. It's done out of desperation and as a knee jerk reaction, rather than trying to look cool.
 Narc (2002) / int_e2cbeee9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_e2cbeee9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_e2cbeee9
 Narc (2002) / int_e3b0cd87
type
Morality Pet
 Narc (2002) / int_e3b0cd87
comment
Morality Pet: Calvess' wife and children are this to Oak. See Parental Substitute below.
 Narc (2002) / int_e3b0cd87
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_e3b0cd87
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_e3b0cd87
 Narc (2002) / int_e663d3ef
type
Only a Flesh Wound
 Narc (2002) / int_e663d3ef
comment
Only a Flesh Wound: Tellis gets lucky when he's shot by Deacon - it results in a relatively minor neck wound. He still has to go to the hospital and take medication though.
 Narc (2002) / int_e663d3ef
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_e663d3ef
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_e663d3ef
 Narc (2002) / int_eb251937
type
Dirty Cop
 Narc (2002) / int_eb251937
comment
Dirty Cop: Both Oak and Tellis are this, but especially Oak: "The only thing you need to know about me, is that I'm gonna bag the motherfuckers that killed Mike. If that means breaking every point of procedure, then they're broke."
 Narc (2002) / int_eb251937
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_eb251937
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_eb251937
 Narc (2002) / int_name
type
ItemName
 Narc (2002) / int_name
comment
 Narc (2002) / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Narc (2002) / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Narc (2002) / int_name
 Narc (2002) / int_name
itemName
Narc (2002)

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Place Beyond the Pines
processingUnknown
Narc (2002)
 Improbable Use of a Weapon
processingUnknown
Narc (2002)
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Never Suicide / int_d40b7f5e
 Rabid Cop
processingUnknown
Narc (2002)
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
"Rashomon"-Style / int_d40b7f5e
 Narc (2002)
hasFeature
Reckless Gun Usage / int_d40b7f5e