Rating of
3.5/4
Scorsese at the top of his form.
filmfan09 - wrote on 01/21/09
Bringing Out the dead is a film that reunites the team of director Martin Scorese and writer Paul Schrader, the same two men who made Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Last Temptation of Christ.
The movie is about a man on the edge of madness who cruises the night streets of New York trying to bring help to pepole don't really want to be heled. His name is Frank, played by nicolas Cage. Mark anthony stars as Noel, a deranged man who's a regular client. Frank has different partners every night, Larry played by John Goodman who distracts himself from the job with thoughts of his next meal, Marcus (Ving Rhames)who looks to Jesus and Tom (Tom Sizemore0 who likes to hit peple when work is slow.
Frank is way pass being Burned-out and he keeps trying to quit. His captain threatens to fire him but never does. Patrica Arquette co-stars as a daughter of a dying man Frank has brought back to life. Franks life is a loop of endless emergences. Nicolas Cage is perfect for this role and Scorses throws other characters at him to create a disjointed rhythm of a paramedics endless job. Cliff Cutis is also great as a owner of a drug house.
Bringing Out the Dead shows Scorsese at the top of his form with a powerful film about a man who tries to do the right thing but seems to get anywhere. He is a guy who suffers because of his inability to do anything good. he wants to help he can't, he's out there everynight and he being driven crazy by the weight of suffering that comes down on him.
This is not a easy movie. People will have a hard time with the story. This is not a typical Nicalas Cage movie. But it's a wonderful, powerful film with fire and passion. What life Scorsese brings to his films. The movie is alive, bright and vibrant. with these characters and locations, the kinetic engery and the camerawork.
