Bad Lieutenant
aka: 'The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans'
No doubt you're aware from earlier reviews that this movie is the first collaboration between Nicolas Cage and Werner Herzog; the German film-maker finally finding a maniacal muse to replace the late Klaus Kinski. The end result? A totally bonkers, utterly surreal and hugely entertaining cop drama.
It bears no relation to the 1992 Abel Ferrara/Harvey Keitel thriller. It's not a remake, reboot or sequel. The two films simply share a title and the same basic premise: the adventures of a compromised, drug-addicted police officer.
Cage's Terence McDonagh is too involved with a high class hooker (Eva Mendes), owes several thousand dollars to his bookie (Brad Dourif) and tries to double-cross both the mob and a drug gang boss (Xzibit). Doesn't sound like a situation that will lead to a happy ending, but McDonagh seems confident of solving all his problems. However, the audience is perfectly entitled to question how much of the narrative is real and what is a drug-fuelled fantasy in the mind of the title character.
It's an enjoyable journey. Along the way, we are treated to some tense scenes and several of McDonagh's twisted "visions," including a dead man's soul break-dancing and two iguanas singing to each other. I did say the film was bonkers!
Cage is excellent. After a few poor career choices (especially the abysmal 'Knowing') he's back on form, following up his superb supporting turn in 'Kick-Ass' with another award-worthy performance. Yes, he's over-the-top and off-the-rails - and so is Herzog's direction. But this movie is so much fun, who cares?
