Customer Ratings & Reviews

Aside from watching reality tv, this movie shows the stress of the job. Though it's not designed for that and its just a movie, it's a good one

I've owned this film at least twice, as I have a hard time finding reason(s) to keep items that I don't use ALL the time (crazy, I know...); but this film seems to have a sense of morality that a lot of other films don't have. It isn't political, it just lends a sympathetic hand to all those who have been hurt by all the bad in the world...all around the main character, Frank Pierce, a paramedic, there is much disorder and chaos. Part of Frank's job is to aid those who have been hurt by this chaos. But Frank is becoming more and more disturbed by his inability to do any real good, as the root of the problems never goes away. He takes this reality and puts it into tangability (or the next best thing): a dellusion of a former patient's ghost haunting him. This film didn't do too well at the box office, and much of the reason for that is the fact that movie tickets are a lot more expensive than home viewing, and its a bit risky to pay $7 on a film that one has never seen. Sure, you can say that about any film, but it's a bit different with films like this which are designed to appeal to a certain mood; it's difficult to be able to go into X showing of a mood piece and be able to enjoy it...what if the mood you're in is completely different than the tone of a particular mood piece? They tried to compensate for this by releasing it in the dead of fall (October), but even in October it's often difficult to sit in the right chair at the right time with the right mood piece before you...with home viewing it's a lot easier, 'cause a) it's cheaper and b) you are in control of when you can see it. I suppose that's a bit off subject, but I just wanted to share that anyway. The film, even though extremely dark, has a lot of good laughs thrown in. I won't ruin them for you, but I must warn all perfectionists out there that there are some dumb jokes thrown in too, not many, just 2 or 3; they aren't "o my god, that was sooo not funny" jokes, just not the kind of jokes that many are inclined to laugh at... I was a bit disappointed in the special features of the film. But for a film that cost $50+ million to make and advertise and then made back only $20 million of that, I don't suppose I can complain too much.

As someone who has worked the streets as a FF/Paramedic for over 20 years this movie is so close to 100% its scary. The partners are all partners I worked with (and they with me). The situations and word are no different then what truly happens on any of this countries inner city streets. Mind you this again is told from the older ways things were done like myself videos and computers have put a end to a lot of the (shooting from the hip) but imagine 20 years ago it really was the wild west and this is what myself and many others lived threw.

Basis of the book of same title, director Martin Scorsese of 'Goodfellas' and 'Taxi Driver' takes this fine film with Nicholas Cage as a frazzled EMT worker on edge of New York losing his spirit with the job. Comedy, drama, tragedy- the movie is shot beautifully of New York 1998 with plenty of star power and intensity, but the movie lulls too long by the end.

This movie was really good. The DVD includes a sufficient documentary with cast and crew interviews. Highly recommended.