Movie Critique - Bringing Out the Dead

By: Dominick Ward-Pistone

There is no denying that Martin Scorsese left critics everywhere astonished. His newest movie Bringing Out the Dead is hauntingly wonderful in several aspects. Bringing Out the Dead delivers, not only in its admirable script, but also in the explosive performances of each member of its cast. This highly intelligent thriller displays an ideal combination of both drama and dark comedy.

Pros: For starters, the story line is graphic and intense. Martin Scorsese does a marvelous job at revealing the stop and go life of a mentally disturbed ambulance driver. Nicolas Cage stars as that nearly insane ambulance driver, by the name of Frank Pierce. At the beginning of the movie, he describes what it is like to save somebody's life, almost as though it were a stimulant of the highest degree. The movie starts out with Frank Pierce just starting to lose control. As the movie progresses, so does Frank's insanity. The thing to note in this film is Martin Scorsese's usage of lighting. He uses a lighter tone after a person dies. This is to symbolize the "white light" that some people claim to see before death. Also at one point in the movie, Pierce administers what he thinks is a "cure" for insanity to him. It ends up becoming a large rush of adrenaline. Shortly after, the camera speeds up and goes into fast-motion in order to depict the sort of rush that Pierce is experiencing.

All of the supporting actors and actresses played their roles as though they were made just for them. There was not one weak link in any of them. The last really unique part about the movie is its ending. Unlike most sappy, 60 minute TV dramas, Bringing out the Dead has an ending, which leaves the viewer curious as to what will happen next. It isn't exactly happy, sad, or amusing, which may sound dull, but it is perfectly suited for the story.

Cons: Although this movie was one of the best movies of the year and praised by numerous critics everywhere, there are still many critics who would put it down. Why is this... maybe because they have nothing better to do than pounce upon good, descent films, while they know very well that they lack the talent to even try to write their own movie. Although the camera angles and lighting were fantastic in their own right, the music didn't always fit the scene. Also, the plot may be a little intricate at certain parts of the movie, but nothing too severe. Although this movie certainly deserved them, it probably will not win any Academy Awards. (That would be due to the fact that it is an American film, and a thriller.)

Bottom Line: Bringing out the Dead is a movie not to be missed! Nicolas Cage truly delivers a performance of the highest caliber. All in all, on a scale from one to ten, I would rate this movie a "9 ½" without a doubt.

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette, John Goodman, Mark Anthony, and Vin Rames

General Comments: "A spellbinder, in the great Scorsese tradition,"- Rolling Stone Magazine. "Nicolas Cage is an actor of great style and heedless emotional availability,"- Roger Ebert. "The superbly shot, Bringing Out the Dead is full of bravura moments and high-wire performances," Newsweek.