Bad Lieutenant

Released 1993
Stars Harvey Keitel, Frankie Thorn
Directed by Abel Ferrara

The Lieutenant (Harvey Keitel) is a man of huge contradictions. He is a police officer, yet he spends more time breaking the law than keeping it. He is a practising Catholic, yet he sins almost constantly. He sits in church, discussing his mounting gambling debts with his bookie. In Bad Lieutenant, we watch as he sinks into a stinking pool of corruption, drugs, gambling and abuse. As he sinks, we see that this despicable and dangerous man isn't just awful. He's also pitiful. And we wonder whether there's any hope for his redemption.

This is an intense movie with numerous scenes that are just plain unpleasant. We watch as this guy steals money, buys, sells and consumes drugs (in every way imaginable), cheats his friends and abuses young women. He demeans others, but more than anything, he demeans himself. The Lieutenant is almost completely out of control.

Bad Lieutenant features one of the best acting performances you will ever see. Harvey Keitel, whose incendiary performance is totally horrifying and utterly convincing, dominates every moment. Keitel took incredible risks making this film, baring his body and soul while creating a portrait so compelling, it's difficult for the audience not to identify the actor with the role. Keitel is so real it's scary. Bad Lieutenant is not for everyone.

Summary by Brian Webster