This is a movie followed by a lot of controversy and mixed reviews. Some are glorifying the work of famous Werner Herzog, while others are strongly against the idea of re-making or making another “Bad Lieutenant” even if it includes the iconic director.
But let’s start from the beginning; if the title “The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” sounds familiar, you are right. There is a movie from the past (1992, to be precise) entitled “Bad Lieutenant” which helped the shaping of cinematic history, and gained cult status among movie lovers.
That particular feature made a star out of Harvey Keitel, and established notorious Abel Ferrara as the underground, dark American movie royalty. It also featured underground beauty (late) Zoe Lund, who also co-wrote the film.
So, that is the original. What Werner Herzog did is not a remake. It is not a sequel. It is, as he stated, a unique art piece and film with its own plot, story and catharsis. But the problem is – nothing listed is there: lame story, painfully light plot and certainly no catharsis.
Abel Ferrara was furious when informed about this movie, but since it is clear that it is not connected to his artwork, he stopped showing interest.
Werner Herzog is an Academy Award Nominee. He is a class A director – with integrity, idea and individual touch. But with “The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” something went terribly wrong.
A list cast also didn’t help Although Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, Eva Mendes (here used as an eye candy) and Fairuza Balk are included it didn’t help. This movie about a detective turned addict in New Orleans simply has no depth, and even the love story between Cage and Mendes is too light.
But see it and decide for yourself, for some it’s a masterpiece: mix of humour, pain and life situations; for others it’s just one of many movies we see in a lifetime, and a proof that even Herzog can go wrong sometimes.