The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans - 2010

I can't remember the last time I saw Nicolas Cage on the big screen, apart from Kick Ass where he played a supporting role. There simply hasn't been a film he's featured in which has appealed to me. As mentioned on a previous review he has for a while now been choosing some really dreadful films, but this seems to be the most serious, and maybe for him most important role he's had for a while. "The Bad Lieutenant" was a film in 1992 but this isn't a remake, its more of another chapter featuring another corrupt Lieutenant. I'm hoping to see Cage back at his best - here's to hoping...

Terence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage) is a cop who due to a back injury becomes a drug addict, who uses more than "what the doctor prescribes".  He Steals from the evidence room, accepts drugs and sex as bribes and takes any opportunity to search and confiscate contraband from criminals for his own personal use. On top of all this he has a hooker girlfriend (Eva Mendes, who's not really known for her major roles, but none the less never disappoints), owes $10,000 to a dodgy booky and another $15,000 to a crime family in compensation for slapping and stealing from a guy who mistreated his girlfriend.

All this is set in New Orleans and the story at the forefront of the film is that of a murder investigation and the protection of the 15 year old boy who witnessed it.

In the opening of the film we see a water snake sliding through a rippling stream lit only by the glow of nearby street lights. As we watch we hear soft jazz style sax playing in the background which immediately reminds me of the classic 80's cop movies, like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon, and you'd be forgiven in thinking that this is one of those buddy cop movies as in the first five minutes we see Steve Pruit (Val Kilmer, who I'm not a big fan of) and McDonagh working together. In fact this is the scene we see in the trailer with the drowning drug addict. Pruit wants them to let the addict die but McDonagh saves him, ruining his expensive pants. This act not only leads onto his promotion to Lieutenant, but also reflects the nature of the man. Although his actions are somewhat questionable (at one point he threatens an old lady!) his ultimate motive is to get the right result, using any way possible. Kilmer seems to then (thankfully) disappear from most of the film, and the rest of the journey we're with McDonagh, "The Bad Lieutenant".

Cage's performance is nothing short of brilliant - he's not your classic all American hero - he's an intelligent detective but his drug addiction has made him crazier than a road running lizard (which he hallucinates on several occasions when he's tripping). His trips and actions during them are very ammusing and lighten the situation during the darker moments of the film.

The supporting roles from Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer and surprisingly Alvin 'Xzibit' Joiner are all excellent along with the script and the entire feeling of the film. My only criticism would be that as excellent as the film is, it fails to get my heart racing. There aren't any particularly exciting bits of the film which made me stop and think, "Wow this film is amazing" though saying that, it is very very good throughout.

So if you're a fan of the classic cop movies which we got in the 80s and 90s, thrillers, seeing Cage at his best or just a fan of great films then I very much recommend this. Lets hope that Cage's films continue in this manor and he's given more opportunities to play more demanding and interesting roles.
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans is out for general release (that's right readers my first preview!) on May 21st and you must go and see it. 8.5 out of 10

Russ x