Bad Lieutenant (DVD)

“Warning! This Video Contains Scenes That Some Viewers May Find Offensive” So that’ll be just like The Exorcist then, Scum and A Clockwork Orange? It’ll also be the reason then, just as with these films, I chose to watch it. We’re all suckers for controversy, and unfortunately this weakness often results in feelings of regret. Personally, I thought A Clockwork Orange stank. And Scum, for that matter. But hey, which film are we reviewing here? Strong content is all very well, but no good when it’s being used to mask mediocrity. This being my original fear. Bad Lieutenant certainly has strong content - the cover ...  Read the complete review

Released in 1992, 'Bad Lieutenant' is the story of a corrupted New York cop played by Harvey Keitel (Pulp Fiction, The Piano, Reservoir Dogs). The film, directed by Abel Ferrara, has been the subject of widespread controversy due to its depiction of drug abuse, sexual violence and strong language. However, this in combination gives the movie a gritty realism, and shows the viewer a behind-the-scenes look at life on the mean streets of New York. In the lead role Harvey Keitel delivers a fantastic performance as the shambolic Lieutenant with a huge appetite for both drugs and gambling. The story follows the investigation into a series of murders, and ...  Read the complete review

Bad Lieutenant is one of those dark cult-films. If disturbing, well-directed and compelling films are your bag then this one is for you. The story is about, well, a bad lieutenant, a New-York copper who has seen it all and no longer cares. He steals drugs (so do some of our coppers it would seem these days) from drug busts to fuel his own addictions. He cares for no one and nothing and staggers from one depravity to the next. The story moves on to an investigation of the rape of a nun and our “hero's” attempt at redemption (you may be surprise as to how). The film has a couple of scenes that are legend in school-boyish circles, the nun scene is ...  Read the complete review

I wanted to like it, it had everything going for it, Harvey Kietel, loads of drugs, loads of violence but at the end of the day how entertaining is it to watch Harvey shoot up every five minutes?? Granted Kietel does act very well though I kind of expect that of Kietel but it just made me yawn. The plot involves Harvey playing an absolute degenerate cop out to score everything he can whilst investigating the rape of a nun (very graphic and nasty) The film is pretty gritty and nasty, I suppose you'd expect it from Ferrera, but its just not that entertaining. ...  Read the complete review

The film centres on a corrupt New York cop who remains nameless throughout the film. For ease of reference, I shall call the lieutenant LT as this is how Abel Ferrara himself has referred to him in interviews . LT is a gambler, alcoholic and drug addict. He uses his status as a police officer to force young women into sexual acts and routinely steals drugs that have been taken from crime scenes as evidence. He has a large Catholic family, with whom he never seems to engage. When a nun is raped by two young men, LT is attracted to the case by the large reward that the Catholic Church are willing to pay for the perpetrators' arrest. However, the nun refuses to give any ...  Read the complete review