"We don't make movies like 'The French Connection' anymore," says writer/director Joe Carnahan ("Blood, Guts, Bullets & Octane"), who was inspired by "The Thin Blue Line" and obviously aimed to evoke the unconventional, naturalistic spirit of Sidney Lumet, John Cassavetes and William Friedkin. "That style of filmmaking was more about character than explosions." To that end, Carnahan, aided by cinematographer Alex Nepomniaschy, relies more on the propulsive tension of macho mayhem and carnage, indicated by quick cuts, split-screen, frenetic handheld shots and emotional eruptions, than a linear story line. The acting is quite admirable since both actors have done these cop roles before, and it's good to see Chi McBride (TV's "Boston Public") on the big-screen as a conflicted police captain. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Narc" is an intense, gory, gritty 7. Curiously, this visceral, violent cop psychodrama has been on the shelf for a full year because of the effect on the film industry of the aftermath of 9/11.