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Bad Lieutenant (1992) is an extraordinary movie. It is still controversial, shocking and remarkable. Harvey Keitel has never been better and his performance is a towering master-class in the art of acting.
Now a re-make of sorts hits the cinemas directed by Werner Herzog and this "version" is already controversial not because of what the movie shows but because of the bickering between the two directors.
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009) draws on themes from Abel Ferrara's film. One major change from the original film was moving the setting from New York City to New Orleans. Herzog insists that the film is not a remake, saying, "It only has a corrupt policeman as the central character and that's about it."
At the Academy Awards in 2009, Herzog stated that he has never seen Ferrara's film, saying "I haven't seen it, so I can't compare it. It has nothing to do with it." Herzog stated, "I battled against the title from the first moment on" but added, "I can live with it, I have no problem with it at all. The title is probably a mistake, but so be it."
Abel Ferrara was quoted as saying "As far as remakes go, ... I wish these people would die in Hell. I hope they're all in the same streetcar, and it blows up."
When asked later for his response to Ferrara's statements, Herzog stated that he does not know who Ferrara is, saying "I've never seen a film by him. I have no idea who he is."
At a press conference at the Venice Film Festival after the film's premiere, Herzog said of Ferrara, "I would like to meet the man," and "I have a feeling that if we met and talked, over a bottle of whiskey, I should add, I think we could straighten everything out."
A review of Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans has this to say:
Abel Ferrara's anger is justified. The original Bad Lieutenant was an incredibly dark ride through one man's hell. This is more of a walk in a park. Keitel's depth of anger and frustration aren't approached here by Mr. Cage. I know he (Herzog) wasn't trying to make the same film as Ferrara, but there has to be a lot more pain involved if you're going to include the words "Bad Lieutenant" in the title.