Review of Bad Lieutenant (1992) by Todd J — 14 May 2008

This is one of those flicks that I've had a vague interest in seeing for a long time, and it blew away what small impressions I had of it. Abel Ferrara depicts a modern moral nightmare set in the heat of New York City in the midst of an MLB final.

Harvey Keitel puts the performance of a lifetime at Lt, the crack-smoking, freebasing, gambling asshole. The character is so utterly despicable in every conceivable way that it really pains you to think that his nice family has to even be involved with him.

I bet a lot are turned off by the fact that he is so ridiculously unsympathetic, but had they taken the time to actually watch the movie and not the atrocities, they would find that the movie has a deep redemptive line that's more developed than 10,000 cloud pleasing Shawshank Redemptions or Black Snake Moans.

When you see the scene when Lt lays his complete heart out in prayer, you'll understand that what you're watching is no meager exploitation, it's a serious, serious arthouse flick. And although some of Keitel's actions end up being over the top (blasting the radio when the team he bets on loses), that gritty immediacy to the whole thing (undoubtedly gained by its small, fast production on-location shooting).

Keitel's decomposition from lowlife to down and out is truly frightening, and when his character arc is complete, you can't help but feel more like a human after seeing just a touch of it in an otherwise complete monster.

Taken together, Bad Lieutenant stands out as a completely unique and intense film experience that's capable of both kicking your ass and then making you feel better. Not interested in a remake whatsoever.

Not even a maniac like Herzog doesn't have the balls to do this one right. ***** out've *****.