The Bad Lieutenant

Far from being another American "cops" movie, The Bad Lieutenant: Port of call New Orleans is a well-made and deep insight on the physical and moral up-and-downs of a simple man, who tries to get by.

Terence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage) is a talented police detective in the destroyed post-Kathrina New Orleans. After hurting his back in a rescuing operation, he is prescribed painkillers to ease the pain. Six months later, we find him addicted to cocaine, painkillers and gambling.

Investigating on a murder of an entire African family executed over drugs, the viewer follows Terence in his daily life: a prostitute girlfriend also addicted to drugs, an alcoholic father who is struggling to stay sober by attending AA meeting, and a sad-looking sister who also has drinking problems.

Terence uses and abuses of his police authority to get drugs, do favour to friends and gather the money he needs to pay his gambling debts. Joining forces with the dealers he is investigating on seems to be a suitable -and life-jeopardising- plan to manage his rollercoaster life.

The Bad Lieutenant, arguably Nicolas Cage best performance, not only has the tension of a thriller, but can easily be gray and sad, and in some scenes, absurd and very funny. Like the life of the protagonist, the film is a collage of achievements and drawbacks, magistrally portrayed by director Werner Herzog, and underlined by a carefully selected bluesy soundtrack.

"Shoot him again! His soul's still dancin'!"

Watch the official trailer here.