Drama,Crime
United States of America
As McDonagh's addiction spirals out of control, he tanks his personal life and career. He begins to engage in increasingly erratic and unethical behavior, including stealing drugs from evidence lockup, soliciting sexual favors from women he encounters on duty, and blackmailing suspects.
McDonagh's investigation of the African immigrant murder case leads him down a dark and dangerous path, putting himself and those around him in harm's way. He becomes obsessed with the case, even as his own life crumbles around him. With his addiction and paranoia growing worse by the day, he must struggle to stay ahead of both the criminals he is pursuing and the demons within himself.
The film is a gritty and often disturbing portrayal of a man in freefall, with Nicolas Cage turning in a mesmerizing performance as a cop who is both depraved and sympathetic. The supporting cast includes Eva Mendes as McDonagh's troubled girlfriend, Val Kilmer as his junkie best friend and fellow cop, and Xzibit as the drug dealer who becomes McDonagh's nemesis. Directed by Werner Herzog, the film is a loose remake of Abel Ferrara's 1992 film Bad Lieutenant, but stands on its own as a haunting and unforgettable portrait of moral decay.
