Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Starring: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Xzibit, Fairuza Balk Directed by: Werner Herzog Runtime: 121 minutes Rated: r Distributors: First Look Pictures Release Date: November 27, 2009

            This is a dark look at the seedy underbelly of police work. Nicholas Cage portrays Terence McDonagh a New Orleans cop who saves a prisoner during the flooding from Katrina. In the process he destroys two vertebrae and is put on pain killers. He becomes addicted to pain killers and cocaine, associates with criminals, and his girl friend is a hooker (Eva Mendes).

            He is partnered with Stevie Pruitt (Val Kilmer) and together they are trying to solve the murder of a family of Senegalese immigrants. The trail leads into the worst of the drug kingpins left in New Orleans, Big Fate (played in a very understated manner by Xzibit).

            The story was wonderfully written, most of the acting was superb, however Nicholas Cage was playing himself. He emoted the same as he does when appearing on interviews. He spoke with the same teeth clenching mumbling that he did for almost everything he has done. The only bit of “acting” he did that was believable was when he was hallucinating and acting stoned. His performance spoils what would have otherwise been a very good movie.

            Two and a half stars out of five

Bob LaPierre