• Friday, November 20, 2009

• Country:

  USA

• Language:

  English

• Runtime:

  121 min

2009

TERENCE MCDONAGH (Nicolas Cage), Homicide detective with the New Orleans Police Department, saves a prisoner from drowning in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In so doing, he severely injures his back. He’s promoted to Lieutenant, put on prescription pain medication and returned to active duty.

A year later finds Terence addicted to Vicodin and cocaine, buoyed by the conceit that he can take care of everyone he needs to take care of, is a better cop than he’s ever been. He has his bosses sufficiently convinced that when a family of African immigrants is found massacred, Terence is the guy to head up the investigation.

A rogue detective is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs -- while playing fast and loose with the law. He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves. Together they descend into their own world marked by desire, compulsion, and conscience.

Trivias

• In a June 2008 interview with The Guardian, Abel Ferrara, who directed and co-wrote the original Bad Lieutenant (1992), said that finding out his movie was being remade was "a horrible feeling", "like when you get robbed", and that those involved in this remake "should all die in hell". He also wondered how Nicolas Cage "can even have the nerve to play Harvey Keitel", and called screenwriter William M. Finkelstein an idiot.
• Although being promoted as a remake of Bad Lieutenant (1992) during its early production, director Werner Herzog claims that this is not a remake. He says he has never seen the original and therefore does not consider this movie a remake. Additionally, producers seemed to have added "Bad Lieutenant" to the title in order to get a better marketing. Whether remake, re-imagining, follow-up or none of the aforementioned, both movies are clearly connected by the basic plot of following a drug addicted, violent cop during his encounters with crime and sex.
• The original Bad Lieutenant (1992) starred Harvey Keitel, with whom Cage appeared in National Treasure (2004).

Quotes

• Terence McDonagh: His soul is still dancing.
• Deshaun 'Midget' Hackett: What for?
• Terence McDonagh: Shoot him again.

Awards

1. Golden Lion
   Event: Venice Film Festival
   Result: Nominated
   Category:
   Recipient(s): Werner Herzog
2. Christopher D. Smithers Foundation Special Award
   Event: Venice Film Festival
   Result: Won
   Category:
   Recipient(s): Werner Herzog