Bad Lieutenant
Bad Lieutenant

Bad Lieutenant

1992Movie96 minEnglish

While investigating a young nun's rape, a corrupt New York City police detective, with a serious drug and gambling addiction, tries to change his ways and find forgiveness.

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes74%
Metacritic72/100
Google Users75%
Director: Abel FerraraGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A corrupt, drug-addicted New York City police detective spirals further into depravity as he investigates a brutal rape case. Haunted by his sins and crippled by his addictions, he finds himself entangled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a dangerous crime lord. His desperate attempts to find redemption become increasingly entangled with his own destructive path.

Critical Reception

Bad Lieutenant is widely considered a disturbing and unflinching look at corruption and addiction, earning critical acclaim for its raw intensity and Harvey Keitel's powerful performance. While polarizing for its graphic content and bleak subject matter, it's lauded as a masterwork of independent cinema, exploring the depths of human depravity and the elusive search for redemption.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its raw, visceral portrayal of a morally bankrupt character.
  • Harvey Keitel's fearless performance is consistently highlighted as a major strength.
  • Criticized by some for its graphic nature and disturbing themes, but respected for its artistic integrity.

Google audience: Audiences often find the film to be a challenging but compelling watch, with many appreciating its bold and uncompromising approach to dark subject matter. Keitel's performance is frequently cited as a standout, though the film's intense and bleak tone is not for everyone.

Fun Fact

Harvey Keitel improvised many of his scenes and famously agreed to perform certain acts on screen that were not in the original script, contributing to the film's raw and shocking nature.

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