New Orleans Adult Entertainment: Cage entertains as ‘Bad Lieutenant’
November 24, 2009
Not so much inspired as ignited by an eccentric script from television writer William J. Finkelstein, Herzog creates an atmosphere sticky with amorality. For the filmmakers, New Orleans is a delirium state where all bad deeds go unpunished and vice versa.
The film spins with McDonagh’s whirling moral compass. As the waters rise in the Katrina prologue, McDonagh dives into a lockdown to set free a drowning prisoner.
His reward for this act of kindness? A promotion and a back injury that gets him addicted to Vicodin. In a pinch, he’ll use any prescription or street drug that can stanch the pain. And there are a lot of pinches.
McDonagh routinely shakes down suspects for drugs. And if the suspects don’t have them, there’s always the property room at the precinct or the stash of his prostitute girlfriend, Frankie (Eva Mendes), whose johns McDonagh loves to mess with. And did I mention that he is a sports gambler who owes thousands to his bookie?
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