Bad Lieutenant (1992)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writers:

Victor Argo (writer)
Paul Calderon (writer)

Release Date:

20 November 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Gambler. Thief. Junkie. Killer. Cop.

Plot:

While investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective, with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness.

Plot Keywords:

Nun | Lieutenant | Drugs | Rape | Police

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Harvey Keitel	...	The Lieutenant
Victor Argo	...	Beat Cop
Paul Calderon	...	Cop #1 (as Paul Calderone)
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Cop #2 (as Leonard Thomas)
Robin Burrows	...	Ariane
Frankie Thorn	...	The Nun
Victoria Bastel	...	Bowtay
Paul Hipp	...	Jesus
Brian McElroy	...	Lieutenant's Son (#1)
Frankie Acciarito	...	Lieutenant's Son (#2)
Peggy Gormley	...	Lieutenant's Wife
Stella Keitel	...	Lieutenant's Daughter
Dana Dee	...	Lieutenant's Baby Girl
Anthony Ruggiero	...	Lite
Vincent Laresca	...	J.C.

MPAA:

Rated NC-17 for sexual violence, strong sexual situations & dialogue, graphic drug use.; Rated R for drug use, language, violence and nudity. (edited version)

Runtime:

96 min | 91 min (R-rated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (cut) | Italy:VM18 | Ireland:18 (IFCO) | Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (1994) | South Korea:18 | France:-16 | Japan:R-18 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (1993) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Denmark:16 | Hungary:16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:R | Germany:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:NC-17 | USA:R (cut) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) (cut) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Bad Lt. Productions

Trivia:

Co-writer Zoë Lund plays the women that Harvey Keitel's character does drugs with in her home.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Lieutenant apprehends the two rapists from the crack house, he puts both of them in the back seat. However, when he gets into his car, one of them is in the front seat. Later, when they all get out at the Port Authority Terminal, both are back in the rear seat.

Quotes:

[crying to a hallucination of Jesus Christ]
The Lieutenant: I'm sorry, Lord. I've done so many bad things.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

SIGNIFYING RAPPER

I know there is no plot however...........

All right let's get this out of the way. This is not a great picture. In fact I will bet 98 percent of the public would find it absolutely repulsive. Make that 99 percent. Hell, even I didn't understand it the first time I saw it. But what I realized the second time was brilliant method acting. And that ladies and gents is what makes this film shine. There is no solid plot, no supporting characters, and no reason to feel anything but disgust for Harvey Keitel. However, you find me another actor who could have dug as low as Keitel did or take as many chances and I will bet you that it will take more than the time to cook a frozen cardboard pizza. It is hard to view a soiled life like Keitel was leading without being on the road yourself which wouldn't be pretty. The backdrop of a baseball series and Keitel losing chunks of money made it even crazier. Again I have to say absolutely great acting. Keitel has so many good scenes that this may be a career role for him. I give him a multitude of credit for taking the chance to play a totally unlovable character. Watch this movie at your own risk and know going in that this is an outlier in the sense of normal movie making. Don't bother grabbing a flashlight or even a spotlight and trying to find a plot. There isn't one. Just sit back and watch Keitel spiral down like a squirrel who missed the branch.