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a rambling dark comedy--or just a rambling bad film

posted 14 years ago by a_hat_trick
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There are some interesting twists to the plot and some outrageous behavior by Cage's oddly nuanced character, but unless you take this as a dark comedy, the film ends up being a very poor fit as an examination of America or of New Orleans. The film is not even an interesting examination of the character Cage creates...which is a problem since he is in almost every frame of the work. The film also ends up being a poor mystery, action, or cop flick. However, even as very black comedy, it just does not come off as worth the two hours.

Had the film gone even more over the top, perhaps it would have worked. As is, it just lands somewhere in the middle, like an exotic meal or modern painting that didn't work out as intended.

Plus, there are just too many odd choices: 1) Why do the cops act as if they have no training whatsoever? 2) What is with the filthy Plexiglas that is placed between the camera and the iguanas? 3) And WHAT is with the iguanas? If they represent Cage's breakdown why not more of this? 4) Why are the accents all over the place? 5) Why is the film given this title? Surely Herzog was informed...and how could he not be interested of the film with the similar name once he was?

I've often wondered how people in other countries view films made by foreigners working in their land or directing their nation's actors. Now I know what the risks are: a tin ear for what is important when creating a work of art using voices and cultures with which you are inexperienced. Apparently, Herzog and his forgiving fans felt the risk was worthwhile or are not aware that what he made, and what they are seeing, is just plain bad.

[–] Profondorosso75 14 years ago

Totally agree. if I like a film I tend to be very forgiving of it's shortcomings but if I didn't enjoy the experience I start picking it apart. I didn't enjoy this except for a few brief moments. yes there were some very odd choices made here by the director and cage. I also would have like to see more of his breakdown as I thought the iguana and alligator scenes were 2 of the better moments in the film. he never looks bad enough or acts *beep* up enough for a guy who is supposedly mixing all those drugs. he walks like he has a broomstick up his ass. I have chronic severe back pain for the last 7 months. to see me walk around you would think nothing was wrong with me but inside it's agony. you just get used to it. he was too stiff and uneven. his performance was the worst part for me despite that I have heard others rave about it and that is why I wanted to see it in the first place. the screenplay was not great either. Like you said it can't decide what it wants to be. I'm pretty tolerant of bad accents but they make very little attempt here. Check out "the big easy" for some well done New Orleans accents. I also think they should have gone more over the top with cage going more psychotic and ultimately leading to his destruction. this movie rewards the anti-hero for his evil deeds. Maybe if he keeps killing drug dealers and stealing evidence and doing crack they will make him mayor. I haven't seen the original "bad lieutenant" but after watching this and reading what the director of the original, Abel Ferrera, says about this "remake" in the trivia section I most certainly will.

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