Review of Bad Lieutenant (1992) by Brandon B — 04 Nov 2008

An intense and intelligent film that is hard for even the most jaded film viewers to watch without being shocked on some level. Harvey Keitel plays the unnamed lieutenant who is so corrupt and cynical on every level that he does such evil things as verbally molest two underage girls that he pulls over and takes every hardcore drug he had get his hands on.

He also has a gambling addiction, which is constantly putting him in trouble. However, he lays it all on the line with one memorable line of dialogue: "I'm a fucking Catholic!" It is this tie to the religious upbringing in the Catholic church where he feels the constant guilt for his sins, and he believes that he can redeem himself by getting vengeance for the brutal rape of a nun.

Whether or not he finds his redemption is ultimately left up to the viewer, where a less intelligent and sensitive film may have given more closure and underlined all the feelings to the audience. Harvey Keitel gives a tour de force performance, and, as usual, puts his naked body on display, this time baring his body and his soul to Jesus.

Rated NC-17 and not for the faint of heart! Surprisingly, there is a re-imagining in the works starring Nicolas Cage (!).