Watch Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a thriller movie directed by Werner Herzog and released in 2009. The movie is set in New Orleans, Louisiana, shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastatingly had hit the city. The film follows Terence McDonagh (Nicolas Cage), a corrupt and drug-addicted police officer, as he investigates the murder of a family of illegal immigrants who were involved in drug trafficking. From the outset, Terence's personal and professional life are both chaotic and complicated. He is suffering from severe chronic pain due to an injury he sustained while heroically saving a prisoner from drowning during a hurricane. In turn, he becomes addicted to prescription painkillers, as well as cocaine and marijuana.

As Terence leads the investigation, he uses his badge to intimidate and extort information from the suspects and witnesses, including his girlfriend Frankie (Eva Mendes), who is also a prostitute and drug addict, and her client Big Fate (Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner), a drug lord involved in the murder. As the story unfolds, Terence becomes increasingly unhinged and erratic, resorting to violence and hallucinogenic drug use to cope with his physical and mental pain.

The movie's climax centers around Terence's dark attempt to create a utopia with his girlfriend Frankie in a post-Katrina New Orleans. Despite his terrible actions and immorality, he seeks redemption and ultimately tries to make amends for his behavior by forming a relationship with his father (Tom Bower) who he had a long-standing feud with.

Whilst Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans does not shy away from the dark themes of addiction, violence, and corruption, it manages to maintain a strong sense of humor throughout the film. Nicolas Cage's performance as Terence McDonagh is one of the most engrossing of the actor's career - an erratic, and sometimes terrifying depiction of a cop gone rogue that is both amusing and frightening. Eva Mendes also delivers a solid performance as Frankie, providing a good foil for Cage's outlandish performance.

Werner Herzog's direction is superb, showcasing the gritty atmosphere of New Orleans and never allowing the tension to dissipate throughout the entire movie. In fact, the film's jarring and surreal moments mirror the post-Katrina Nola perfectly, giving the viewer an even better sense of the physical and emotional environment upon which the story takes place.

In conclusion, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a fascinating and disturbing movie that can be both unnerving and amusing. Its portrayal of law enforcement and drug enforcement corruption in a post-Katrina Nola is both thought-provoking and darkly entertaining. For viewers looking for a drama with a great performance from Nicolas Cage, tense pacing, and subtle humor, this movie is an excellent choice.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a 2009 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 69.