Bringing Out the Dead Movie Review 1999

Cage hasn't looked this haggard since his boozehound role in "Leaving Las Vegas" which could be considered a dress rehearsal for this turn as burnt out New York City paramedic Frank Pierce. Aided by Scorsese's kinetic filmmaking style, Schrader's on-tempo script, and revved up performances by Rhames and Sizemore as Pierce's partners, movie successfully convey's the day-to-day stress of emergency units. Unfortunately, Cage's sleepwalking character is a bore, and a lack of chemistry with real-life spouse Arquette as Pierce's singular ray of hope only makes you yearn for Scorsese's similarly themed masterpiece "Taxi Driver." Based on the novel by Joe Connelly.

Distribution

Paramount Home Video, 5555 Melrose Ave., 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: (323)956-5000, URL: http://www.paramount.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 120 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

New York, New York, Drug Use & Abuse, Hospitals & Medicine, Sanity Check, Black Comedy, Contemporary Noir, Insomnia, Paramedics

Screenplay

Paul Schrader

Cast

Jon Abrahams, Nicolas Cage, John Goodman, Tom Sizemore, Ving Rhames, Patricia Arquette, Marc Anthony, Mary Beth Hurt, Clifford Curtis, Nestor Serrano, Aida Turturro, Afemo Omilami, Arthur J. Nascarelli, Cynthia Roman, Cullen Oliver Johnson

Cinematography

Robert Richardson

Director

Martin Scorsese

Music

Elmer Bernstein