Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

ActuallyGlimmer The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Usamah Harvey The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

christopher-underwood I'm a big fan of the films of Abel Ferrara but I don't like this one. Does whether I like it or not have any baring on whether I think it good or not? Probably shouldn't but its kind of inevitable. Big problem here is the quartet of main themes, Catholic Church, gambling, drug taking and baseball. Not keen on the inclusion of any of them, let alone all four. In different circumstances inclusion of matters relating to the church wouldn't be so bad but here it really is central and we get heartfelt endorsements as well as criticism. I feel that seeing young children in a line being told that a wafer is the body of Christ is severe abuse. And if this didn't get m angry there is the whole New York cop corruption business. Was it really ever this bad in the state? Maybe but it is pretty hard to believe. Anyway the writer/director seems to take pleasure in this, how he got Keitel to perform in this the way he does, I've no idea, but the glee with which we are dragged through the gutter is disturbing in itself. Made for next to nothing, the film is remarkably well made but I for one could do without it, thanks.

PimpinAinttEasy Dear Harvey Keitel,there are some films which are elevated to another level by the actors. In fact, John Huston remarked that "Half of directing is casting the right actors." Bad Lieutenant might have ended up an average film if a lesser actor had played the lead role. But as one of the greatest wasters in movie history, you have inspired fans to compare the film to Taxi Driver. The long tracking shots interwoven with point of view shots and real life locations wouldn't have amounted to much if it wasn't for your performance, Harvey. Frankly, there aren't that many memorable dialogs. I did not enjoy the arty-farty sex scenes. And parts of the movie were uninspired. Especially your character forgiving those two rapists in the end. But there is hardly a scene where you aren't at your very best, Harvey. I think Terry Zwigoff did a better job with this film's remake - Bad Santa (2003) than Abel Ferrera.Best Regards, Pimpin.(8/10)

Giallo Fanatic Most people will dismiss this as one of the worst movies they've seen. Mainly because the movie has an amoral main character and because the movie isn't entertaining and mostly uncomfortable to watch. But with the subject being mainly corruption and the theme redemption with an unlikeable character I find it understandable. I myself love this movie since I am into heavy stuff that makes me think and fill me with dread. This movie manages both if you ask me. I feel it is such a strong movie with some existential philosophy about a corrupt man starting to feel guilt about his life. Leading to his quest for redemption. The story plays out well, showing our main character's irresponsible ways ranging from gambling, drug abuse, taking bribes to harassing young women. I think it is such a tragic movie. The director certainly did a great job if you ask me, considering the hard subject he did his job quite thoughtfully making the story and plot convincing. Leading to a movie in my opinion one of the best tragedies ever put on film.Now Harvey Keitel is an actor I have the utmost respect for. I have yet to see a bad movie he has been in. He often plays roles that are hard to play and where most actors tend to slip a Little in playing their characters, I think Harvey often does his job strongly and convincingly. I imagine if another actor tried to do what Harvey did in this movie many actors would have made the character laughable instead of uncomfortable, pitiful and convincing. He is a subtle actor even in his most outrageous roles, also quite graceful. This movie is no exception in his acting. I could relate to his character, even though he was such an amoral character with very few redeeming qualities. I only feel this way to a few actors and just to name a few like Gary Oldman, Denzel Washington, Al Pacino and Michael Caine (I didn't write them all since it isn't about them). So yes, I am very fond of Harvey Keitel. He is a rare talent that doesn't get much recognition. But he is a professional and he keeps his life private which I respect even more.This is a thought provoking movie where the audience has to take part in the Lieutenant's life which is a corrupt life. It has a simple plot in which the Lieutenant is trying to find the rapists of a nun and find redemption. The story is good in which it perfectly shows how corrupt our Lieutenant is and it is full of subtleties where the Lieutenant even though harsh and corrupt, hides a good man that went wrong ways with wrong decisions. Oh and the existential part? The lieutenant is looking for redemption and try to do one good thing in order to forgive himself, what can be more existential than that? Trying to find meaning to his life which he has been wasting a lot. What a waste his life was by the way. After each time I watch the movie I begin to feel grateful for my dull life, because although it is dull I haven't sunken as deep as the Lieutenant. So in my opinion this is a movie that has to be watched again and again. Although it doesn't fall into everyone's taste. It is a hard movie to watch after all.

Mr-Fusion One thing I will say about "Bad Lieutenant" is that it was cool to see the movie's events play out during the Mets/Dodgers playoff series. Between that and the bets being placed on the games, it's not everyday you see baseball so woven into the fabric of a non-sports movie. It's nice.Along with that, I'll definitely say that Harvey Keitel's performance is unequivocally the reason to see this movie. He's unhinged, way off-course, on the raggedy edge. And the movie's title is an understatement. He's straight-up vile, a vigilante cop that dabbles in your seedier vices, pilfers money from robbery scenes and extorts underage girls to get off. He's something else. And my burning question the entire time was "Why?". Why is he so bad? Too many years on the street, too many divorces? But we're not given that information. He's just bad . . . because.But his misdeeds are so outlandish that the lurid and shocking reputation this movie has attained just gives way to over-the-top. By the time he's weeping at the feet of Jesus, it's absurd. I don't think laughs are what Abel Ferrara was going for with that scene. I know this movie's about redemption (in the Catholic sense), but there's nothing to feel for this guy. He's cardboard.5/10