REVIEW: ‘Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’

Wow. Wow. Wow.

That’s all I can say after watching “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans,” which draws a lot – yet is completely different from – the 1992 original with Harvey Keitel.

“Port Of Call New Orleans” follows Terrence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage), a police officer that gets promoted to lieutenant after saving a prisoner from his jail cell after Hurricane Katrina. After getting promoted, everything goes south: McDonagh’s back is messed up, and he starts abusing his pain medication before moving to illegal drugs. He gets put in charge of his first big homicide case, but his longtime partner (Val Kilmer) doesn’t want to report to his slide into rampant drug use. The main murder suspect turns out to be the biggest drug dealer in New Orleans, Big Fate (Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner). His bookie is after him and won’t let him bet anymore. His prostitute girlfriend (Eva Mendes) often has some unsavory clients, which can cause McDonagh to get himself into trouble with the wrong people. The way he solves all these problems is the most unorthodox way imaginable, especially when you consider he does it all of his own accord.

Honestly, I thought this was going to be a train wreck, and boy, was I right! The most beautiful train wreck I’ve ever seen. It started out like a bad made-for-cable movie. Title, acting, everything. I’m not talking like made for HBO either. I mean the only thing missing from this movie being made for USA is Steven Segal being the lead actor instead of Nicolas Cage. The beginning was basically the back-story, and it seemed a little rushed. Also, Cage seemed like the worst actor ever, but thankfully that ended as McDonagh slides into a drug-fueled haze.

Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes

The movie finally starts clicking on all cylinders after McDonough discover this horrific murder. Maybe it’s because Cage can finally start acting like he normally does. The things this cop does are very interesting, and I don’t think they couldn’t have gotten a better guy to play him than Cage. His role is both funny and sad. Cage is great at that. Eva Mendes also does some pretty good acting. In fact, almost everyone in this movie can act. Even Xzibit, who’s cut his teeth in several other smaller roles, does well.

There are quite a few problems that some people can encounter with “Bad Lieutenant.” McDonagh goes into these weird trips that the audience can see, while McDonagh’s peers obviously can not. The camera style, lighting, music, and complete feel of the movie change for like a minute and then everything goes back to normal.

Director Werner Herzog has some problems with pacing in the movie – there are several spots where the film drags along, and the ending seems rushed. Some audience members might have a problem finding someone to “root for,” as most characters have very bad qualities. I happen to love that.

Overall, I would say this is the funniest, most interesting, and weirdest movie I have seen in awhile. Many may think the comedy was unintentional, but I think it was very intentional. I honestly think that writer William Finkelstein brought the most ridiculous story he could to the screen, and Herzog directed the flick with that knowledge. It’s highly out of the ordinary, and I can’t recommend this movie enough.