Narc is a 2002 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed and written by Joe Carnahan and starring Jason Patric and Ray Liotta (who also co-produced).

During their first meeting, Oak reveals to Tellis his belief that the Detroit Police Department wants the Calvess case buried and it is all about politics.

The detectives visit the scene where a drug dealer has been shot dead in his bathtub; Tellis surmises the death was accidental and self-inflicted.

The suspects explain that Calvess, who had fallen into drug addiction, blew Tellis' cover eighteen months before and caused the shooting.

The script for Narc originated from a short film made by Joe Carnahan while a student at San Francisco State University.

[2] For a year, the film struggled to find full financing as it was a violent cop movie with no marquee names.

Finally, an independent company called Cutting Edge Entertainment agreed to produce Narc and principal photography got underway in 2000.

In April 2002, Cruise’s support led to Paramount Pictures making a $3 million-deal to distribute the film theatrically during awards season.

The consensus states "Jason Patric and Ray Liotta are electrifying in this gritty, if a little too familiar, cop drama.

[6] Positive reviews praised the acting and the story for putting a fresh spin on familiar cop film clichés.

[7][8] Some critics compared the film "to landmark ’70s police thrillers like The French Connection and Serpico—films that had style and energy to spare but were more interested in pursuing the minds of their characters than creating elaborate action sequences".

In a three-star review, Roger Ebert wrote, "In terms of its urban wasteland, the movie descends to a new level of grittiness.

[11] Critics noted Jason Patric and Ray Liotta have played similar roles in cop films before, but that their performances here still managed to surprise.

[12][11] Chuck Rudolph of Slant Magazine wrote "Liotta is destined for to be remembered for his daunting work here—he allows Oak’s imposing nature to run far deeper than a mere façade, but it is Patric who embodies the film’s soul.

[11] The film was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Director for Carnahan, Best Supporting Male for Liotta, and Best Cinematography for Alex Nepomniaschy.

[14] In 2014, Paramount Television announced plans to develop a TV series that would be a new take on Narc, with Carnahan directing and writing the pilot episode.