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

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, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,000,022

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,527,895

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Keitel has a USMC tattoo on his arm. Rather than being a make up appliance, Keitel actually joined the marines decades ahead of the movie being scripted. Marine also sounds like Mary and there is a prominent Virgin Mary statue in the church.

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Goofs

When the Mets win the pennant, we see the Met catcher roll the ball toward the mound and run toward the dugout. This is obviously the end of an inning, but not the end of a game.

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Quotes

[to a hallucination of Jesus Christ]
The Lieutenant: You fuck. Where were you?

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Alternate Versions

the out of print NTSC laserdisc (along with the out of print NTSC pre recorded videocassette) are the only complete, uncut versions of the film which feature the now deleted 'signifying rapper' by scholly d soundtrack which was later removed due to legal reasons. both are now valuable collector's items.

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Connections

Referenced in Californication: Suicide Solution (2011)

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Soundtracks

THE BAD LIEUTENANT
Words and Music by Abel Ferrara
Performed by Paul Hipp (as Paul G. Hipp) & Abel Ferrara

User Reviews

Addiction, Corruption, Forgiveness and Redemption

In New York, a corrupt and abusive NYPD Lieutenant (Harvey Keitel) is addicted in drugs and gambling and has a great debt with a shark. He takes advantage of his authority to make deals with drug dealers and criminals to get drugs and dirty money and his bookmaker advises him that he owes money to dangerous people. When a nun is brutally raped by two youngsters, the Lieutenant chases the criminals but the nun tells him that she had forgiven the punks. The Lieutenant is affected by her religious principles and asks Jesus to help him.

"Bad Lieutenant" is one of my favorite films by Abel Ferrara with a great story of addiction, corruption, forgiveness and redemption. Last time I had seen this film was on 27 September 2000 and after seeing once again, I realize that "Bad Lieutenant" is a timeless movie that has not aged. Harvey Keitel has one of the best performances of his successful career in the role of a dirty cop that finds redemption in the end. Unfortunately this film is only available on VHS in Brazil. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Vício Frenético" "Frantic Addiction")

Note: On 21 February 2017, I saw this film again.