This is yet another entry in the canon of realistic crime dramas where two narcotic detectives team up to pursue a murder case that has gone cold. The murder was that of detective Henry Oak's (Ray Liotta) previous partner. Oaks is joined in the investigation by Nick Tellis (Jason Patric). Both detectives have personal reasons for wanting to solve the case and they pursue it obsessively.
This is not a buddy movie, since Oak and Tellis are more antagonistic toward each other than companionable. There is a remarkable lack or humor - I cannot remember a single instance of comic relief.
To say that we see the seamy side of urban life does not really do justice to what is shown. For example, we spend time (quite a bit of time in fact) in a room with a body in a bathtub that has been putrefying for a couple of weeks. When Tellis sees the headless body he vomits. The scene is filmed in such a way that you easily imagine the stench.
Patric and Liotta are very good in their roles - they create believable characters. The movie is well paced with some engaging camera work (the opening chase scene is a real grabber), and there are a few plot twists to keep your interest.
But, when it was all over I found myself asking the question if there was enough here to make it worth my time and I felt moderately inclined toward a negative answer.
This is not a buddy movie, since Oak and Tellis are more antagonistic toward each other than companionable. There is a remarkable lack or humor - I cannot remember a single instance of comic relief.
To say that we see the seamy side of urban life does not really do justice to what is shown. For example, we spend time (quite a bit of time in fact) in a room with a body in a bathtub that has been putrefying for a couple of weeks. When Tellis sees the headless body he vomits. The scene is filmed in such a way that you easily imagine the stench.
Patric and Liotta are very good in their roles - they create believable characters. The movie is well paced with some engaging camera work (the opening chase scene is a real grabber), and there are a few plot twists to keep your interest.
But, when it was all over I found myself asking the question if there was enough here to make it worth my time and I felt moderately inclined toward a negative answer.