BRINGING OUT THE DEAD

A little over 25 years ago, legendary American filmmaker Martin Scorsese once again teamed up with screenwriter Paul Schrader, who helped launch his career by providing the scripts for the classic films Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. The result of this collaboration was Bringing Out The Dead, though this cinematic gem was far less appreciated in 1999 than their previous joint efforts. Despite being a powerful film, it was unfairly overshadowed in Scorsese's extensive filmography, which now includes nearly 35 feature films spanning over 50 years. It wasn’t until last year that the film was finally digitally restored and released in 4K. This version is now being shown exclusively at Cinema RITCS.

Much like another underrated gem, After Hours from 1985, Scorsese returns to his roots with a story set in New York at night. The film follows three consecutive nights in the life of paramedic Frank, who is grappling with a massive burnout and desperately longing for peace and redemption. Working the night shift in Hell's Kitchen, he witnesses horrific incidents daily, dealing with borderline insane colleagues and a cast of strange characters inhabiting the darker shadows of New York. Amid the chaos of overdoses, heart attacks, violent crimes, and alcohol poisoning, Frank is increasingly haunted by the ghosts of patients he couldn't save.

Nicolas Cage (who has now become a caricature of himself with his over-the-top performances) portrays Frank as someone struggling to maintain a shred of humanity and empathy amidst the madness. His understated performance is surprisingly poignant, striking an emotional chord through its simplicity and sincerity. A wonderfully manic Tom Sizemore, Ving Rhames, John Goodman, and Patricia Arquette round out the excellent cast.

Director Martin Scorsese is at the top of his game here, taking viewers on a hellish ride through a nightmare bathed in artificial light, set to a fantastic soundtrack mixing Motown with '70s punk rock. Bringing Out The Dead pulses with frenetic energy, is highly kinetic, and delivers an often exhausting viewing experience tempered by the kind of dark humor characteristic of paramedics. The film may have been "too in-your-face" for the '90s, but it has solidified its cult reputation and gains additional contemporary relevance in this turbulent post-Covid era. Bringing Out The Dead can now rightfully be considered one of Scorsese's sharpest and most brilliant films.