Bad Lieutenant (1992)

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 and redemption.

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writers:

Zoë Lund (as Zoe Lund), Abel Ferrara

Stars:

Harvey Keitel, Brian McElroy, Frank Acciarito

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harvey Keitel	...	LT
Brian McElroy	...	LT's Son (#1)
Frank Acciarito	...	LT's Son (#2) (as Frankie Acciarito)
Peggy Gormley	...	LT's Wife
Stella Keitel	...	LT's Daughter
Dana Dee	...	LT's Baby Girl
Victor Argo	...	Beat Cop
Paul Calderon	...	Cop #1 (as Paul Calderone)
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Cop #2 (as Leonard Thomas)
Anthony Ruggiero	...	Lite
Vincent Laresca	...	JC
Robin Burrows	...	Ariane
Victoria Bastel	...	Bowtay
G. Elvis Phillips	...	Young Cop
Stephen Chen	...	Korean Store Owner

Storyline

A police Lieutenant goes about his daily tasks of investigating homicides, but is more interested in pursuing his vices. He has accumulated a massive debt betting on baseball, and he keeps doubling to try to recover. His bookies are beginning to get agitated. The Lieutenant does copious amounts of drugs, cavorts with prostitutes, and uses his status to take advantage of teenage girls. While investigating a nun's rape, he begins to reflect on his lifestyle.

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Plot Keywords:

rape | drugs | gambling | police | police protagonist | 

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Taglines:

Gambler. Thief. Junkie. Killer. Cop.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for sexual violence, strong sexual situations & dialogue, graphic drug use

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally banned on home video in the UK when first released theatrically in 1992.

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Goofs

At the end, when the Lieutenant enters the bus terminal, he leaves his car behind the street sign, but when he returns, the car has moved forward.

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Quotes

The Lieutenant: If you think you're not getting on that bus, man, you're dead wrong. Now get on that fucking bus, 'cause your life ain't worth shit in this town!

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Alternate Versions

The original theatrical version was released with an NC-17 rating. However, there is an R-rated video version which omits a great deal of critical plot structure.

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

PLEDGING MY LOVE
Written by Don D. Robey (as Robey) / Fats Washington (as Washington)
(P) 1954 Music Corporation of America, Inc.
Performed by Johnny Ace
Used by permission of MCA Records, Inc.

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

17 December 1992 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Bad Lieutenant

Filming Locations:

1911 Hone Ave Bronx NY 10461

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$47,454, 22 November 1992

Gross USA:

$2,000,022

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,038,916

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Lt. Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min 91 min (R-rated)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1