Bad Lieutenant (1992)

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Director: Abel Ferrara

Writers: Zoe Lund & Abel Ferrara

Stars: Harvey Keitel, Frankie Thorn, Brian McElroy, Frank Acciarito, Peggy Gormley, Stella Keitel, Dana Dee, Victor Argo





Harvey Keitel gives a searing performance as the Lieutenant, a thoroughly corrupted and evil human being who abuses his power, himself, and those around him in equal measure. 



He clearly loathes what he has become but knows no other way to be.

 


As the film opens, he appears to be the final stages of an extended suicide by lifestyle; he is constantly ingesting drugs and increasing the amount of his losing bet on the World Series to underworld thugs who are fully prepared to kill him for welshing on his gambling debts.

 


When a raped nun (Frankie Thorn) refuses to reveal the identity of her attackers because she has forgiven them, the Lieutenant, a very lapsed Catholic, is stunned by this act of absolution and begins to long for some form of redemption for himself.

 


This powerful film is essentially plotless.

 


We are forced to wallow in the Lieutenant's degrading world; many scenes that detail his transgressions go on longer than they would in most films. 



But all of this is presented in service of the Lieutenant's final act, a bid to be worthy of forgiveness that is provocative but faithful to his character. 



This is one of the most interesting and serious films on the subject of spiritual salvation that I have ever seen.


Spoiler alert!!! End of the movie!!




















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