A remake of the Harvey Keitel film, the Bad Lieutenant sounds like just another Irish- cop-gone-bad movie (like the original, drowning in Catholic guilt) but it’s not. It also drums up the question of why? But then in some zany far-fetched way, it also answers it. And it does it in a way that doesn’t require special effects or even action-punched-shoot-outs. Set against the backdrop of post Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Terrence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage) has a drug and gambling addiction and uses his powers to get what he needs. And it’s how he gets what he needs that is both original and amusing (often laugh out loud). In other words, when Nic Cage is on a role just let him go. Stevie (Val Kilmer, who’s come out of nowhere, but welcome back) is his partner. This makes the movie feel circa 1990 with Kilmer and Cage – two of the biggest stars of that era – sharing a screen. Frankie (Eva Mendez) is his effectively sexy and coked-up girlfriend who plays the damsel in distress always looking fabulous with the right dose of cleavage, pouty lips and a hint of sleepy. The movie opens on Cage saving somebody but hurting himself physically in return. This causes an instant addiction to Vicodin which launches the movie into some far-fetched but believable scenes. It’s as if director Werner Herzog (remember “Grizzly Man?”) and Cage teamed to bring the best of each of themselves into a film. Cage is back, the way we loved him in his Oscar winning performances. This is a man down on himself and down on his luck but bullshitting his way through to survive. This is “Leaving Las Vegas” but with wild Herzog twists (avoiding plot spoiler here.) Three and a half tiaras
