Bad Lieutenant: Port of call- New Orleans review

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is directed by Werner Herzog and stars Nicolas Cage along with Eva Mendes. This is the first Herzog film that I have seen, but it is my understanding that he's a director who takes many chances with his film projects. I have to say that this director has caught my attention.

In this dark comedy, Nic Cage is a Lieutenant who suffers constant back pain from trying to save a man stuck in a prison cell during Hurricaine Katrina. He becomes addicted to Cocaine and other illegal substances in an attempt to cope with his pain. He also grows more reckless as the film progresses through gambling and commiting many crimes.

With the help of Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant, Nicolas Cage is back in form. In fact, I don't think he's been this good since Adaptation. Without him, I don't think this film could of pulled it off. Throughout the movie, Cage is hunched and appears to be in substantial pain when off his medication, and when he isn't acting like he's in pain, he has to act like he's high. Cage is absolutely convincing, his performance doesn't falter at any moment of the film. I feel as though he got somewhat snubbed by not even getting a nomination at the Oscars for his wonderful perfomance.

The same goes for Herzog. I feel as though he did a great job on how he went about the issue of Hurricaine Katrina in this movie. Its not the focus, just the setting. But I feel Herzog understands that some of the acts Cage's character does throughout the film wouldn't of been possible without an event as devastating as Katrina to cripple New Orleans.

The reason why I call Bad Lieutenant a "dark comedy" is because thats what it is. The acts and scenarios surrounding Cage's character are ridiculous. Ridiculous to the point of laughter from the audience. Unlike Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant from 1992, the film doesn't attempt to sympathize with the protagonist. I don't think that Cage's character even pities himself, and the bombarding dilemmas he faces throughout the film. He just acts out on instict, too careless or high to worry about the consequences. The audience is left with doing one thing when watching Bad Lieutenant; laugh along with the protagonist.

Herzog was quoted saying something to the extent of the nature of evil, which is that evil is blissful. It isn't so much as an excuse for the character's actions, but more of an understanding on his motivations. This film has no good guys, nor any bad guys. There are only shades of grey. Thats what brings this film into greatness, instead of mediocrity.