Cruise helped Liotta movie

Ray Liotta is tipped for an Oscar nomination for his role

Actor Ray Liotta has told the BBC how Hollywood star Tom Cruise helped Liotta's independent police drama Narc become one of the year's successes in the US.

Liotta told BBC Breakfast on Wednesday that Cruise was the person who secured nationwide distribution for the film, a gritty crooked police drama harking back to 70s police movies.

Liotta said he wanted to make the film after reading the script

"We were in Sundance [film festival], we were getting calls Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman, they loved it, and then Tom Cruise saw it," said Liotta.

"He called us up and said he wanted to help us out.

"It was a little film and we had distribution, but we didn't know how many theatres, and he got Paramount to buy it."

The deal then allowed the film a nationwide release.

Narc stars Liotta as a bullish police officer, Henry Oak, investigating the death of a fellow policeman while he is himself the subject of an inquiry.

The film has been a huge hit in the US and Liotta is being widely tipped for an Oscar nomination.

Liotta put on 25lbs for the part of police detective Henry Oak

The film cost only $3.5m (£2.2m) to make and was filmed in only 28 days.

"We did it in a very gritty, realistic style," Liotta said.

The film also stars Jason Patric as an undercover policeman.

Liotta said he had to make the film, written and directed by Joe Carnahan, because he was so impressed by the script.

"Sometimes you make a movie for the studio. This was one for me, and it just so happens it's taken on a life of its own," he said.

"I wasn't very happy with some of the movies I was getting - this was before Hannibal or Blow - and I wanted to be more proactive."

'Be aggressive'

Liotta had to put on over 25lbs to play Oak.

"His wife died, and that's the only woman he really loved, and so he kind or replaced the love with work, there's a lot of hours. And I was just thinking someone working such a gruelling schedule would eat a lot of comfort food."

Liotta hopes the success of the modestly budgeted film might galvanise other would-be film-makers.

"If anyone wants to break in, you can do it. You just have to be aggressive."

The film is released in the UK on 7 February.