Joe Carnahan’s new Netflix thriller, The Rip, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, is a hit with both viewers and critics. The film is a tense crime story about a large cash seizure and the questionable actions that follow. Carnahan’s experience in the genre has resulted in widespread praise and the film quickly rose to the top of Netflix’s most-watched list.
If you enjoyed The Rip, you’ll find plenty of other crime thrillers directed by Joe Carnahan, including the often-overlooked Copshop with Gerard Butler and Smokin’ Aces. But the film that first put Carnahan on the map was the 2002 police thriller Narc. He’s built a strong career on quality genre films, and many consider Narc to be his best – and a must-watch after seeing The Rip, thanks to its great reviews and powerful performances.
Fans of ‘The Rip’ Need To See ‘Narc’
Paramount Pictures
Joe Carnahan quickly established himself as a skilled director with Narc. He demonstrated a talent for writing compelling police thrillers, creating a realistic and gritty atmosphere, and incorporating authentic police jargon. This love of slang is evident in the titles of his films – The Rip, Copshop, and Narc – all terms used within law enforcement. The word “narc” itself refers to an undercover narcotics officer, often used as a derogatory label by criminals, which is fitting considering the protagonist’s role in the film Narc.
The movie Narc stars Jason Patric as Nick Tellis, a former undercover narcotics officer brought back to help solve the murder of a police officer when the investigation stalls. He’s teamed up with Henry Oak, a volatile detective and the deceased officer’s former partner, in a standout performance by Ray Liotta that often goes unrecognized. As Tellis and Oak investigate, their frequent clashes create intense drama, hinting at hidden agendas and raising questions about the trustworthiness of some police officers. The strong supporting cast includes Chi McBride, John Ortiz, and Busta Rhymes.
Beyond the central mystery, the film Narc delves into complex and unsettling themes, exploring the shades of gray in morality and suggesting that even terrible actions can stem from understandable reasons. Both critics and viewers generally loved it, giving it an 83% ‘Fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 79% audience score. Reviewers particularly praised the powerful performances from Patric and Liotta, and noted the strong directing talent of Carnahan, who was early in his career after making his debut feature in 1998. Narc also has a solid 3.6/5 rating on Letterboxd and a 7.1/10 rating from IMDb users.
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Director Joe Carnahan consistently delivers strong work in action and thriller genres. He wrote the screenplay for Bad Boys for Life and Boss Level, and his writing was key to Gerard Butler’s critically acclaimed thriller, Copshop. With a career that began with films like Narc, it’s no surprise audiences are responding well to The Rip, and fans should definitely check out his earlier, hard-hitting police thriller from 2002.
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2026-01-22 16:20