Review: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Nicholas Cage has made some great movies in his time (Face/Off, Kiss of Death), he has made some okay movies (Gone in 60 Seconds, National Treasure, Windtalkers) and some very poor movies (Con Air, The Rock) and of course you could sort out the rest into your own categories. When I first thought to watch Bad Lieutenant, I got a feeling that it would be one of his worst. Surprisingly, thankfully, I was wrong. In fact, it is one of Cage’s better films in a long time.
The movie follows Lieutenant Terance McDonagh (Cage) as he tries to solve a grisly murder case and sort out his personal life. It was an interesting and unpredictable plot with a dark humour about it that was very enjoyable. Cage’s character was likeable but controversial at the same time. He was a good police officer but a horribly corrupt person. A cocaine addict, his girlfriend’s pimp, an extortionist and a frequent gambler, there isn’t much good in this guy. At the same time, in his purpose to solve the case, he finds ways to show that he has worthy qualities and a somewhat decent heart. There is a definite clash in this movie over the character’s morality.
The pacing and development of the story worked very well too and Werner Herzog should get credit for this work. Cage’s character is burdened with new conflicts but he treats them with a distant cool that only a high crack head could. As well as Cage’s delightful acting, Herzog throws in a few hallucination scenes, such as the iguanas, to emphasis the character’s state of mind. Upholding the quality acting of this movie along side Cage is Eva Mendes and a few scenes with Val Kilmer. What ever happened to him anyway?
All in all, Bad Lieutenant was good. I am glad I watched it and wouldn’t pick any other actor to star in it. Good show Nicholas Cage! Good show!
Rating: 
“and some very poor movies (Con Air, The Rock)” We need some words, the Rock was fucking great. Otherwise good concise review.
I was about to say what Balaam said. You thought Windtalkers was better than Con Air? :0
sorry fellas, i did not like Crap Air at all, and the only good thing about The Rock was Ed Harris. I liked Windtalkers, it was one of the few war movies made recently that took place in the Pacific Theatre (Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima came afterwards, and those were more drama than war).
anyway, we’ll have to finish this argument later boys, i’m going to go watch Groundhog Day with Bill Murray! wooo!
I think we can both agree that Groundhog Day is a great film.