This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 273! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey friends!
I gotta tell you, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole last night and ended up watching “Bringing Out The Dead,” you know that 1999 flick directed by the legend Martin Scorsese. Not exactly your typical feel-good flick, but definitely worth a watch if you’re into gritty, dark, and thought-provoking cinema. Trust me, it’s one of those films that gets under your skin.
This movie isn’t for the faint of heart, folks. It’s a raw and intense look into the life of Frank Pierce, a 1990s New York City paramedic played by a truly intense Nicolas Cage. Frank is this EMS paramedic who’s teetering on the edge of a mental breakdown. And let me just say, Cage sells it big time. His haunted eyes, the way he mumbles through his shift, and his frantic energy—it’s something else. Dude’s job is nightmarish but he keeps grappling with his inner demons anyway. Literally every night he’s out there, prowling the streets in his ambulance, trying to save lives and, kind of ironically, losing a piece of himself.
Right off the bat, the movie just sucks you into this gritty, neon-lit world. It’s a symphony of chaos—sirens wailing, lights flashing, people screaming. You can almost smell the city air, thick with exhaust fumes and rain.
The supporting cast is stacked too. We’ve got Patricia Arquette playing Mary Burke, whose dad turns up as one of Frank’s barely-alive patients and, of course, there’s something brewing between her and Frank. Arquette has this raw, vulnerable vibe going on, and it pairs well with Cage’s edgy performance. Then there’s John Goodman, Ving Rhames, and Tom Sizemore as Frank’s fellow paramedics. Each of them brings their own distinct brand of madness, humor, and humanity to the table. Rhames, in particular, is hilarious in this oddly uplifting charismatic way. There’s this one scene where he starts a prayer session in the middle of a rescue—you can’t make this stuff up!
One of my favorite things about the film is its dark humor. I mean, you wouldn’t think a movie about an almost-burnt-out paramedic would tickle your funny bone, right? But it does! It’s the kind of humor where you’re not sure if you should be laughing or cringing. That’s peak Scorsese for you! There’s even this moment when Frank is so desperate to get fired that he starts intentionally messing up his job, hoping someone realizes he’s a mess. Ironically, no one seems to care enough to sack him. Talk about a rock and a hard place!
Now, let’s talk about the plot — or rather, the lack of a typical linear plot. It’s more like a series of vignettes that capture the fragmented nature of Frank’s life. Actually, the entire film feels like a hallucination. Frank is seeing actual ghosts of the people he couldn’t save, and it’s wreaking havoc on his sanity. These apparitions pop up randomly, almost as if they’re a manifestation of his guilt.
One repeating ghost is this girl named Rose, and every time she appears, it’s both eerie and heartbreaking. His hallucinations and nightmares are seriously trippy, almost like a bad acid trip set in the grimy streets of NYC. Now, some might find this lack of a traditional narrative structure disorienting, but it works perfectly for the film’s themes of isolation, desperation, and the search for redemption.
Speaking of NYC, Scorsese paints a bleak and unforgiving portrait of the city. The streets are crawling with junkies, crime is rampant, and even the flashing lights of the ambulance seem to blend into the urban decay. The cinematography is top-notch, immersing you in the chaotic world Frank inhabits.
In a weird way, “Bringing Out The Dead” doesn’t really “end” per se. You’re left with this uneasy feeling like the story is just a slice of Frank’s ongoing, never-ending nightmare. Yet, there’s a sliver of hope. It’s not a happy ending, but more of a resigned acceptance of his reality.
“Bringing Out the Dead” is a tough watch, but it’s also a rewarding one. So, if you’re in the mood for something dark, gritty, and emotionally charged, give this one a try. Just don’t expect to feel all warm and fuzzy afterwards. This is Scorsese at his most bleak and uncompromising, and that’s what makes it so damn good.
Peace out,
Roger