Bringing Out The Dead
"A Great Film Filled With Fire And Passion." -Roger Ebert & The Movies
From acclaimed director Martin Scorsese (Casino, Taxi Driver) comes one of his most compelling and unforgettable movies. Nicolas Cage stars as Frank Pierce, a paramedic on the brink of madness from too many years of saving and losing lives. One fateful night, Frank meets Mary Burke (Patricia Arquette), the daughter of a man Frank tried to save. Together, Frank and Mary confront the ghosts of the past, and discover that redemption can be found among the living.
Member Reviews
Could have been better... - Cricri7
I just watched Bringing out the dead and I still don't know what to write for a review. This is the kind of movie one has trouble in describing. The plot is all over the place. You follow Nicholas Cage, a paramedic who is paired with John Goodman, during his night's work and you sense that he is on the verge of a breakdown but it follows many plots at the same time.
One thing I can say about this movie is the incredible acting. You have so many great actors in this movie doing a superb job that even with the problems with it, you can't help but watch it. John Goodman is one of the most under-rated actors around. He always does an excellent job, even if the script is not that great. He can do comedy and drama and you always end up attached to his character. I am not a fan of Nicholas Cage, but you have Aida Turturro, Tom Sizemore (before his meltdown!), Ving Rhames just to name a few.
If you are a lover of New York like me, this movie shows New York at night and it is incredible to see just for this!Scorsese's Most Underrated Film? - cathyottawa
Set in Scorsese's favorite location, New York, this film follows Nic Cage's Frank - an overworked, exhausted, burnt out paramedic.
Frank has had a string of "bad calls". He hasn't saved anyone in weeks, maybe months. He's depressed. He's starting to hallucinate.
Scorsese does a great job of giving this movie a really trippy feel - so that you feel like you're really in Frank's messed up world; seeing things as he does in his altered state. And the music choices are just perfect.
Paramedics are the unsung heros - the first line of defense in saving lives, and this movie, in it's way, is a love letter to them. But make no mistake, this is a dark film.
I find Nic Cage to be a real hit and miss actor, but he's perfectly cast here. Patricia Arquette is the love interest (though this is in no way a love story). She and Cage were married at the time, and they have a nice, easy chemistry in the film.
The only thing that bothered me is, in this movie, the paramedics patrol around in their ambulance. In real life, they'd be at the station house waiting for calls - but they needed it this way for the movie, so you have to suspend your disbelief.
This gets compared to Taxi Driver (same writer, same director). Some even call it "Ambulance Driver". Certainly worth a rental.Very good cinema - XTRUClerk
I don't usually like this kind of film. You know, the kind that doesn't have a clear purpose or a specific destination. This is a film that replaces plot with clever vignettes. I'm also not a big Nicholas Cage fan. But, despite this, I deeply enjoyed this film. It is so smart, so funny, so grizzly, so emotionally unerving... You can't help but sit up and take notice. The performances, by John Goodman and others, are very good. Scorsece uses many tricks with the camara that enhance the film nicely -- at one point the camera records an ambulance heading towards it and follows as it heads away, up-side-down. There is also a great selection of songs for the score. A really powerful movie that holds up well on repeated viewing. If you've never seen it take a look. Cheers.
Member Reviews
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Could have been better... - Cricri7
I just watched Bringing out the dead and I still don't know what to write for a review. This is the kind of movie one has trouble in describing. The plot is all over the place. You follow Nicholas Cage, a paramedic who is paired with John Goodman, during his ...Scorsese's Most Underrated Film? - cathyottawa
Set in Scorsese's favorite location, New York, this film follows Nic Cage's Frank - an overworked, exhausted, burnt out paramedic.
Frank has had a string of "bad calls". He hasn't saved anyone in weeks, maybe months. He's depressed. He's starting ...Very good cinema - XTRUClerk
I don't usually like this kind of film. You know, the kind that doesn't have a clear purpose or a specific destination. This is a film that replaces plot with clever vignettes. I'm also not a big Nicholas Cage fan. But, despite this, I deeply enjoyed this ...