|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
BAD LIEUTENANT: PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS |
  |
|
Abel Ferrara's 1992 film "The Bad Lieutenant" with Harvey Keitel in the title role went on to be
a cult classic. It explored the seedy side of a corrupt cop who had a little clout and some very bad habits. Can anyone forget his scene
jerking off in front of the teenage girls? Classic! Director Werner Herzog did not attempt to remake
the film nor did he try to make a sequel to the film - instead he created a similar yet distinct
evolution of the corrupt cop in his "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans". With a stroke of genius, he removed the events from New York and placed them in
post Katrina New Orleans. By doing that he adds a bit of "Angle Heart", "9 1/2 Weeks" and "The Big Easy" to the familiar script. |
|
|
|
|
|
Herzog then cast Nick Cage as officer Terence
McDonagh. For Cage he simply recalled his Oscar winning role in "Leaving Las Vegas" to
create a cop so morally corrupt he will disgust even the worst cop. The film opens with Terence and his partner in a prison that is flooding. A lone
prisoner is struggling not to drown in the rising waters. In a moment of kindness - and against his
partners advise, Terence jumps in and saves the convict. But in doing so he permanently hurts his back. We are not sure if the back injury caused his decline to a drug dependent bastard, but he uses his
pain as justification for dependence on anything that will get him high - both legal and illegal. He is enabled by his call-girl gal pal Frankie (Eva Mendes), his alcoholic father Pat (Tom Bower)
and his alcoholic gal pal Genevieve (Jennifer Coolidge). But he gets his drugs wherever he can, even if it includes< taking it
from high couples. |
|
|
|
|
|
Nevertheless, he is promoted to lieutenant because of his heroics and carries
a wee bit of clout. He is drawn into the massacre of a Senegalese
family whose father turned out to be a drug dealer who crossed the wrong line. He immediately figures
out who the culprit is - a character named Big Fate (Xzibit) who is a no-holds-barred drug boss. Big Fate is loaded with a high powered attorney and flaunts the fact there is no hard evidence to convict him. That's not a problem for Terence though, he is busy getting as much drugs as he can - from the police property room,
criminals of the street; basically anyone. Much as in "The Big Easy" his fellow cops clearly know what's going on, but turn a blind eye.
His boss simply wants the case closed. But how can someone with no morals deal out justice? That is the genius of "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans".
Terence is a piece of shit and even as his enablers begin changing he continues his wicked ways. "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" is outstanding. Herzog
created a seedy character who reaches below even Keitel's. Though no big fan of Cage, I concede he was perfect and brilliant
as man with virtually no redeeming qualities. --GEOFFREY BURTON
|
|
