Review of Bad Lieutenant (1992) by James D — 05 Mar 2013

Hard to like, but extremely compelling. It looks and feels like Taxi Driver with aggressive Catholic overtones and the most sordid excess in a character that seens more human than Travis Bickle, yet also more culpable, more conscious of himself.

The eponymous lieutenant's vices are so over the top they're almost ridiculous - crack, heroin, prostitutes, gambling, peeping on naked nuns, among other things. Borders on the edge of indie inanity, but is rescued by its resolution, and of course a strong performance by Harvey Keitel.

Indeed, watching all the disgusting behavior and subsequent breakdown made me want to learn more about the character. Why is he such a scumbag? Has he always been? Unfortunately, or perhaps fittingly, he's not given a chance to transform into a better man.