Nicolas Cage at his craziest

“The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans” is not quite a remake (director Werner Herzog claims to not have seen the original), nor is it a sequel to the original film of a similar name. Rather, it is the recipient of The Most Ungainly Title award. All joking aside, this new “Bad Lieutenant” has one of Nicolas Cage’s finest performances.

German director Herzog, one of the most important filmmakers of this century, and Cage are what make this film succeed — despite a screenplay that is full of holes.

Cage, as a drug-addicted cop, is fascinating as a man falling apart. At his most noble moments, he sounds like Jimmy Stewart. At his most frenzied, he twitches constantly and laughs like Jack Nicholson’s Joker.

Much of Herzog’s personality is absent from this film. Instead, he serves as a steady hand against Cage’s jittery one. He only departs into his own world for close-up shots of reptiles, more examples of his fascination with nature.

“Bad Lieutenant” is somewhat flawed, but Cage’s performance should not be missed.