Nicolas Cage

All of the characters, even the bad blokes, need to play things on the soft side to keep the film in balance against the rising mania of the lieutenant (Nicolas Cags, here with Eva Mendes). (Lena Herzog / First Look Studios)

In Werner Herzog’s new film “Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans,” Nicolas Cage plays a rogue detective who is as devoted to his job as he is at scoring drugs -- while playing fast and loose with the law. He wields his badge as often as he wields his gun in order to get his way. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katri...na he becomes a high-functioning addict who is a deeply intuitive, fearless detective reigning over the beautiful ruins of New Orleans with authority and abandon. Complicating his tumultuous life is the prostitute he loves (played by Eva Mendes). Together they descend into their own world marked by desire, compulsion, and conscience. The result is a singular masterpiece of filmmaking: equally sad and manically humorous. BAD LIEUTENANT PORT OF CALL NEW ORLEANS NICOLAS CAGE EVA MENDES XZIBIT JENNIFER COOLIDGE lootenant, leiutenant, lutenant