Bad Lieutenant (1992)

Bad Lieutenant (NC-17) - Review

"How about those New York Mets?"

Harvey Keitel is at his absolute best here as the corrupt NY police Lieutenant who owes the bookies, hooked on drugs and has his fingers in every diseased pie imaginable.  Told during a NY Mets NLCS run, Keitel is betting against his home team as he quickly circles the drain to his final summation.  Along for the downward ride is his favorite crack providing prostitute (played by screenwriter Zoe Lund), and a sexually abused nun who refuses to accept the Lieutenant's help in punishing her attackers that leads to an emotional and religious breakdown which sees Keitel sink faster into his world of drugs and immorality until we literally see all there is of the lieutenant, a desperate crying fully nude man lost in the mire of his own creation.  This movie is sleazy and grimy and on the wild side of authentic, so crazy it probably could be true.  Keitel so far off the leash he'll change your mind about his abilities as an actor, Bad Lieutenant is dangerous and unlikeable and out of left field, just like those Mets.

8 Hells Kitchens out of 10 (GREAT)