When it comes to films that tackle the abhorrent subject of dirty cops, most will think of Sidney Lumet’s definitive title, Serpico, starring Al Pacino as a lone crusader who stands up to widespread departmental corruption. Abel Ferrara flips the coin with his cult classic, Bad Lieutenant, which follows an NYPD detective, played by Harvey Keitel, who’s not only unapologetically bent, but a hopeless drug and gambling addict – and it’s available now on 4K Ultra HD from 101 Films in the UK.
As the song Pledging My Love by Johnny Ace regularly plays throughout, Bad Lieutenant often feels like a deplorable lullaby as the nameless Lieutenant embarks on one bender after another, during which he undergoes an almost child-like regression. Keitel lets it all hang out, literally, during these drug-fuelled sequences, bearing his soul in an absolutely wrecked performance by the legendary actor. You may not end up liking the movie, but you won’t forget it.
When a young nun is brutally raped, we’re led to believe this heinous crime will steer our protagonist onto a path of redemption, and that’s certainly how the film is marketed and pitched on various film websites such as IMDb. However, his behaviour and self-destruction only intensify as does his gambling debt, which compounds the film’s feeling of impending doom. His morality and broken faith as a Catholic suggest something deeper is stirring within, but the meandering course the film takes distracts and discourages the viewer from trying to find greater meaning to the debauchery.
As a street-level crime-based drama, Bad Lieutenant is certainly not a filtered-over reality, and it’s a prime example of Abel Ferrara’s brand of realism. The notion of a rogue cop patrolling the city in the fashion of Keitel’s character is frightening, and the absence of his superiors may be a commentary on complacency within law enforcement.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Shooting in New York – Interview with Abel Ferrara
- Ken & Abel: Interview with Cinematographer Ken Kelsch
- Bad Neighborhoods – The locations of Bad Lieutenant
- Limited edition booklet includes Body of Evidence: How Harvey Keitel’s Bad Lieutenant Topped a Career of Fearless, Frank Performances by James Mottram, and Morality Crisis: The Vice and Virtues of Abel Ferrara by Rich Johnson
Archive extras:
- It All Happens Here – The making of Bad Lieutenant
- Audio Commentary with Abel Ferrara & Ken Kelsch
- Interview with Abel Ferrara
- Original Trailer
Like many 4K releases, Bad Lieutenant offers a selection of new, newish, and archival featurettes. Despite being listed as exclusives on the website, the interview with cinematographer Ken Kelsch and the locations supplement produced by Michael Gingold are ports from Kino’s UHD release from last year. Of course, those outside the US will be happy to have these featurettes on this disc, especially considering they are recent. Kelsch’s interview offers candid insight into working with Ferrara, and especially Keitel, who employed some intense acting techniques during the shoot. Exclusive to this release is a sit-down with Ferrara, which runs 26 minutes. In his typically conversational manner, the director talks about the evolution of Bad Lieutenant, including the original casting of Christopher Walken, and how his family history influenced the story. – by Hannah Lynch
VIDEO AND AUDIO
4K certainly isn’t lost on Bad Lieutenant, which I’ve only seen previously on DVD. The Ultra HD format complements Ferrara’s gritty style of filmmaking and enhances the nighttime presence of New York City, from the wet sidewalks to the neon glow of West 42nd Street. The optional 5.1 and 2.0 DTS Master Audio tracks offer a nice scope of sounds.
What did I learn from Bad Lieutenant and, more so, this ‘Black Label’ edition? There’s always a slither of sense to do what’s right, even if it goes against your personal instinct; and the film overall is ironically a sobering reminder that some movies are to be experienced, rather than enjoyed. Abel Ferrara does not use B.C and A.D. to reference a period of time. He simply says, “Before Heroin”, and to his credit, he’s a vocal feminist. Which does track if you look back on his filmography.
BAD LIEUTENANT
(1992, director: Abel Ferrara)
★★★★
direct blu-ray screen captures
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