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Bringing out the Dead
(***)
Bringing out the Dead is a phrenetic dip into madness that reminds me quite strongly of what is arguably Scorcese's best work, Taxi Driver. Unfortunately, it's only a reminder. Whereas Taxi Driver was a burning gasoline blaze, Bringing out the Dead is frequently a lit match.
That's not to say there's nothing great about this movie. Quite often, we're pulled into the dark madness of the New York streets and we're left gasping for air. It's just that those moments of greatness aren't enough when all the scenes in between are good, but not great.
Cage is Frank Pierce, a paramedic who's quickly going insane, after years of seeing too many people die in his arms. He finally comes to the conclusion that "I'm not here to save lives, I'm simply here to bear witness." He's begging to be fired, but his boss can't do it; the city is a warzone, and he can't afford to lose a paramedic.
Frank isn't the only one insane. Or, I should say that he's a sane man fighting to keep himself that way. His co-workers are no better, and in fact gleefully swim in the insanity that their profession has brought them to. Larry (John Goodman) copes by thinking about where his next meal is coming from. Marcus (Ving Rhames) thinks he's some sort of divine conduit, and proclaims each life saved as a miracle from Jesus. And Tom (Tom Sizemore) is just plain crazy.
Frank isn't like this, but he wants to be. He's teetering on the edge as a result of getting to close to a patient who died, and now she haunts his dreams and his waking hours. Then, one night he meets Mary Burke (Arquette), the daughter of a man who seems to be a survivor.
The point to this movie would have to be redemption. It's a point that's often driven into our heads throughout the movie, but the problem is that there are lulls where we're just left alone with Frank a little too long. His voiceover monologues extend minutes, and it could have easily become bad. What saves this movie is that Cage brings the right kind of insanity to his character so that we're not bothered by Frank, we sympathize.
Paul Schrader and Martin Scorcese has proven to be one of the most fruitful Hollywood partnerships in history. They've given us Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, The Last Temptation of Christ, and many others. What keeps Bringing out the Dead on a strong note is that basic humanity that's given to each of those movies. Frank's a flawed human, but aren't we all?