Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009)

Terence McDonagh is a drug- and gambling-addled detective in post-Katrina New Orleans investigating the killing of five Senegalese immigrants.

Director:

Werner Herzog

Writer:

William M. Finkelstein (screenplay) (as William Finkelstein)

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Russell M. Haeuser

3 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	Terence McDonagh
Eva Mendes	...	Frankie Donnenfield
Val Kilmer	...	Stevie Pruit
Xzibit	...	Big Fate (as Alvin 'Xzibit' Joiner)
Fairuza Balk	...	Heidi
Shawn Hatosy	...	Armand Benoit
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Genevieve
Tom Bower	...	Pat McDonagh
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Captain James Brasser (as Vondie Curtis Hall)
Brad Dourif	...	Ned Schoenholtz
Denzel Whitaker	...	Daryl
Irma P. Hall	...	Binnie Rogers
Shea Whigham	...	Justin
Michael Shannon	...	Mundt
Joe Nemmers	...	Larry Moy

Storyline

After Katrina, police sergeant Terence McDonagh rescues a prisoner, hurts his back in the process and earns a promotion to lieutenant plus an addiction to cocaine and painkillers. Six months later, a family is murdered over drugs; Terence runs the investigation. His drug-using prostitute girlfriend, his alcoholic father's dog, run-ins with two old women and a well-connected john, gambling losses, a nervous young witness, and thefts of police property put Terence's job and then his life in danger. He starts seeing things. He wants a big score to get out from under mounting debts, so he joins forces with drug dealers. The murders remain unsolved. A bad lieutenant gets worse.

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Plot Keywords:

forced to watch sex | lieutenant | crack pipe | nude photograph | murder investigation | 

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Taglines:

The only criminal he can't catch is himself.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug use and language throughout, some violence and sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Shannon played General Zod in Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). Nicolas Cage was to play as Superman in the 1998 film that was never made, Superman Lives, even being seen fitting out the suit in viral images and video for costume testing. Instead, he voiced the character in Teen Titans GO! To the Movies (2018), 20 years later.

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Goofs

When McGonagh blackmails football player Renaldo, Terrence dangles his handcuffs from his finger with the bottom cuff unshackled. Moments later, when the shot returns to Terrence, the bottom cuff is shackled.

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Quotes

Terence McDonagh: [a dog is barking in the distance as Terrence approaches the house] Hey! What's wrong?
Genevieve: Your father's mad at me 'cause I can't take care of his fucking dog...
Terence McDonagh: Well why does he need you to take care of it?
Genevieve: Cause! He's goin' back into AA. He says he can deal with anymore responsibilities bsides he said he's gotta stop drinking. I mean, it ain't like I don't wanna take care of it... but I leave at seven o'clock in the morning to go to work!
Terence McDonagh: Let me talk to him.
Genevieve: I try to be a good wife to him, Terrence. I ...

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Connections

Features Doggone Tired (1949)

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Soundtracks

C.C. RIDER
Arranged by Brian Leake
Published by Standard Music Library (PRS)/Henning Music (BMI)
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music Library

User Reviews

Cage makes the movie

One thing you can always count on when you go into a Werner Herzog movie is that you can always expect to find a story surrounding a very bizarre individual. With Bad Lieutenant, I saw both Herzog and Nicholas Cage in a new light, or rather a new darkness. Labeled as a black comedy, there should be more emphasis on 'black' than on 'comedy'. The film bears a strong resemblance to the thematically surreal and contrived nature of a Coen Brothers film, but the difference is that this one is more character driven than plot driven. More specifically, this is a film that lives on one performance. Nicholas Cage for the first time in a while has done something worthy of recognition, possibly even award worthy.

He plays New Orleans cop Terence McDonagh, recently promoted to Lieutenant. The film follows his latest homicide investigation. Due to a back problem and a drug addiction he is grumpy and unstable. He is sort of an anti- American hero, and the film concludes on a very bizarre note but clever anti- conventional/Hollywood manner.

Though not Herzog's best, it is certainly one worth watching. With each film I see from him, past or present he continues to intrigue me, but I think in this case, it might be Nicholas Cage who deserves the most credit.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

11 December 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$245,398, 22 November 2009

Gross USA:

$1,702,112

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,606,422

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films, Pressman Film, Saturn Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1