Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans is a film directed by Werner Herzog and starring Nicolas Cage. Filming began in July 2008 in Louisiana, and also around South Mississippi shooting some scenes at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis. The film was released on November 20, 2009.
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans draws elements from Abel Ferrara’s 1992 film Bad Lieutenant, which featured a crooked cop (Harvey Keitel) who is a drug addict and takes sexual favors as bribes.
The main character is Terrence McDonagh, a New Orleans Police sergeant, who starts out as a good cop, receiving a medal and a promotion to lieutenant for heroism during Hurricane Katrina. During his heroic act, McDonagh injures his back and later becomes addicted to prescription pain medication. McDonagh struggles with addictions and finds himself involved with drug dealer Big Fate, who is suspected of murdering a family of African immigrants.
The film was first announced in May 2008 with Werner Herzog to direct and Nicolas Cage to star. The script was penned by TV writer William Finkelstein.[6] One major change from the original film was moving the setting from New York City to New Orleans.[7] 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 did not like the idea of a remake and desired to change the title of the film, but was unsuccessful. 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.”
Actress Eva Mendes, who starred with Cage in the 2007 comic book-based film Ghost Rider, joined the cast the following June. Filming began on July 7, 2008 in Louisiana.