christopher-underwood I'm a big fan of the films of Abel Ferrara but I don't like this one. Does whether I like it or not have any baring on whether I think it good or not? Probably shouldn't but its kind of inevitable. Big problem here is the quartet of main themes, Catholic Church, gambling, drug taking and baseball. Not keen on the inclusion of any of them, let alone all four. In different circumstances inclusion of matters relating to the church wouldn't be so bad but here it really is central and we get heartfelt endorsements as well as criticism. I feel that seeing young children in a line being told that a wafer is the body of Christ is severe abuse. And if this didn't get m angry there is the whole New York cop corruption business. Was it really ever this bad in the state? Maybe but it is pretty hard to believe. Anyway the writer/director seems to take pleasure in this, how he got Keitel to perform in this the way he does, I've no idea, but the glee with which we are dragged through the gutter is disturbing in itself. Made for next to nothing, the film is remarkably well made but I for one could do without it, thanks.

Jackson Booth-Millard The title makes it really obvious what the film is about, and I recognised it because of the leading actor as well, I was hoping the four stars out of five critics give it would be fitting, directed by Abel Ferrara (The Driller Killer, King of New York). Basically a nameless corrupt New York police Lieutenant (Harvey Keitel) struggles with various personal problems and various addictions. The Lieutenant abuses his position with his vices, indulging in heavy gambling that has got him in trouble with the mob, taking a high amount of drugs such as cocaine, and abusing his body having sex with various hookers, he even takes advantage of two teenage girls caught speeding and without a licence, exploiting them for his own pleasure. But then he is faced with a situation that forces him to reassess his life, the Lieutenant is investigating the brutal rape of a Nun (Frankie Thorn) by two young men. The Lieutenant is searching for the men, but the Nun refuses to identify them, as she has stuck with her religion and forgiven them, and to make matters worse the Lieutenant has bizarre visions of Jesus (Paul Hipp), causing him to break down begging for forgiveness. However a witness points him to the two rapists, rather than arrest them he puts them on a bus with a cigarette box containing $30,000 from a drug deal he did, in the end however the Lieutenant pays the price for his lifestyle, he is shot while parked in his car by a passerby, many bystanders realise he has been murdered and gather. Also starring Victor Argo as Beat Cop, Paul Calderon as Cop, Leonard L. Thomas as Cop, Robin Burrows as Ariane, Victoria Bastel as Bowtay, Paul Hipp as Jesus, Brian McElroy as Lieutenant's Son, Frankie Acciarito as Lieutenant's Son, Peggy Gormley as Lieutenant's Wife, Stella Keitel as Lieutenant's Daughter, Shawn McClean as Korean Store Hood, John Steven Jones as Korean Store Hood, Anthony Ruggiero as Lite and Vincent Laresca as J.C. Kietel certainly gives a brave performance as the bad lieutenant who takes advantage of his authority, he even get nude and talks dirty while masturbating, it is odd that the characters have no names, but it kind of adds to the strangeness of the film, it is overpowered by surreal imagery, as well as brutal violence and sexually explicit material, I'm not sure if it was quite my cup of tea, but it was an interesting enough neo-noir crime drama. Worth watching!

gavin6942 While investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective (Harvey Keitel), with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness.Desson Howe called the Lieutenant "a notch nicer than Satan" in the Washington Post, and he cites Keitel's work as the film's saving grace, writing, "It is only the strength of Keitel's performance that gives his personality human dimension." This is completely the truth. The film could be exploitation, something that would not be a surprise from director Abel Ferrara after "Driller Killer" and "Ms. 45". But Keitel's performance is so strong, so authentic, that he adds a level of beauty to a character who is completely unlovable.According to Paul Calderon, the part was written for Christopher Walken, but he turned it down after meeting with Ferrara, and the project was put on hold until Keitel was picked to replace him. This turned out to be fortuitous. As Calderon has said, "Harvey's a tough nut. He's a great actor, and a really tough guy... He can be very intimidating on set. He's always on the verge of exploding." This energy is clearly visible on screen.

freemantle_uk The 1992 film Bad Lieutenant was and still is a very controversial film that easily divides film fans and critics.Harvey Keitel stars as the Lieutenant in question, a police detective who is addicted to hard drugs, has sex with prostitutes and has heavy gambling debts. He attempts to get out of debt by betting more money on the World Series Games between the New York Mets and L.A. Dodgers, falling into a deeper void of drugs as he investigates the brutal rape of a nun (Frankie Thorn), a nun who is willing to forgive her attackers.Bad Lieutenant is a very dark, bleak film, centred around an excellent performance by Keitel. Keitel and his character goes through the ringer as the Lieutenant succumb to his drug addiction, taking its toll on him physically and mental. The Lieutenant goes through hell and we see him get more and more wound out during the film as he loses grit.Director Abel Ferrara makes a very grimy film, having a 70s look to it Sepico and Taxi Driver. The film is set in the roughest, run down areas of New York City and the city is made to be a cesspool of a place which is crime filled where people are gather round crime scenes. This is amplified by the style of direction, using plenty of wide shots and long takes, letting scenes play to their shocking conclusions and giving the actors mostly uninterrupted performances.Bad Lieutenant is very much an art house film about the decline of a man in a world of sin, embarking on sin and someone willing to forgive the people who did the most horrific act possible. It is a brutal, unpleasant work and Ferrara takes very surreal turns with his use of Catholic iconography.Bad Lieutenant is deserving of its controversial status with its violence, sex and it notorious rape scene. But it a interesting art house film as we explore one corrupt cop going into the depth of his own personal hell.