An early role in "The Lost Boys" brought Jason Patric to Hollywood's attention. Perhaps best known for mega-flop "Speed 2: Cruise Control", he's recently turned his back on big budget features in favour of smaller, more interesting projects.
How do you feel about "Narc" suddenly getting all this attention?
Well, mostly I do films that mainstream Hollywood wouldn't touch. So it's nice that Hollywood all of a sudden embraces a film like this. Because, unlike a lot of independent films, the technical aspects of this movie stand right up there with any normal studio movie.
Can you expand on that?
It's about the filmmaking. It's about the fact that you can take a handful of dollars, a good story, and people with passion and make a movie that is not just interesting but will stand up against any $70 million movie that people make.
Most of the people running the studios, who are in a position of power these days, grew up watching movies of the 70s. Those are the movies that inspired them to be in this business, and this is a movie that has all those aspects. I think it inspires people. It excited Tom Cruise and I appreciate that he wants to bang on about it to a lot of people.
Tell us about the story...
It's set in Detroit. I play a cop who was kicked off the force about 18 months before because he got into drugs and had a problem. But they bring him back because his contacts might help in solving the murder of a decorated cop. I am hooked up with Liotta's character and some really fascinating things happen along the way.
Tell us about teaming up with Ray Liotta...
I just like Ray. I've always liked him as an actor and I really got to like him as a guy. He's one of those guys who commits to the part, commits to the scene, and just bangs it out. There's not a precious aspect to him and that's what I like.
"Narc" opens in UK cinemas on Friday 7th February 2003.
