Bad Lieutenant (1992)
Adult Themes,High Level Violence,Coarse Language,Drug Use
Gambler. Thief. Killer. Cop. Abel Ferrara’s cult classic - from the seedy underbelly of a crime riddled New York City comes the story of a police officer who is almost as morally bankrupt, ethically void and emotionally vacant as the transgressors he is employed to apprehend. Director Abel Ferrara who has gained a wide-spread cult following for his ‘pull-no-punches’, sensationalist style of directing has once again inimitably outdone himself in this crude, hyper real depiction of a depressingly imaginable reality. Following an unnamed cop around the beat, Ferrara destroys any possible belief in law, order and morality. Instead, reality becomes a bleak, hopeless and pessimistic existence where the anti-hero is a hard-drinking, drug-taking, sexually abusing fiend whose only instance of moral repentance comes when he meets a nun who has been raped, yet forgives her attackers. This simple act of compassion alters his view, and drives him to seek justice in the only way he knows how. The most upsetting, yet most important element of Bad Lieutenant is that this depiction is not so far from reality. This is the world we live in, these are the horrific things that happen and we cannot hide from this. Abel Ferrara does not hide, instead opting to show these atrocities in their full, gory detail. The result is a depressingly real depiction of a depressingly real potential reality.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 97mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 Enhanced |
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Member Reviews (7)
7 Member
Reviews
CL-D
says
As a movie this was pretty predictable, and the end inevitable but it did send a message to Police forces and their staff around the world about the effects of not controlling the daily temptation that officers are confronted with. 20 years on nothing much has changed, so I guess you could say the excercise was a massive waste of time. If something as graphic and real as this doesn't get the message across, nothing will. Harvey was great as usual.
Keir
says
This film doesn't really age well as those who enjoyed it so much first time around may envisage. That said is worth a look.
I was really looking forward to watching it having encountered the film around the same era as Reservoir Dogs and Good Fellas. Essentially Keitel is doing a "Keitel" with the inevitable full frontal and spun out hoodlum cop talk sequences. While the movie looks great, the plot development just doesn't fully warrant the second spin. That said it is so much better than the recent epilogue and the grit gives the film a watchable swagger as does Keitel's miscreant character's descent into the inferno of purgatory of heaps of drugs and booze.
All I thought about at the end was the strange parable it has with the subsequent events in Daryl Strawberry's life and how it tied so nicely with the events of the film.
Bongz
says
I love the reality of it all - may it be a tad over done, but hey, it's more believable than the mediocre rubbish thats out there.. If youre a Harvey K. fan, you will love him in this..
Greg H.
says
Bleak and horrible. Unfortunately, anyone who has
had any contact with the Queensland constabulary
will find it easy to believe. Keitel is superb. The rest
are scum. Go ask Anna Bjelke-Peterson.
P.S. Do not put sexist jokes on the side of your
campervans- we will get you.
David A.
says
A truely dark film, but accurately protrays the world of corruption, depravity, disregard, disrepect and cruely created by drug users and pushers. Truely stunning performance by Harvey Keitel. While this movie is period set, the underlying tale of corruption, redemption, salvation, second chance, faith and addiction is timeless.
Brian M.
says
This is not an easy film to watch. It is an extremely dark and depressing story of a drug, alcohol and sex obsessed cop who is in an incontrollable spiral to doom. The film is ugly, however, it contains an Oscar worthy performance of unbelievable power from the underrated Harvey Keitel. Three and a half stars-see it if you have a strong stomach.
Ross T.
says
great movie!