Bad Lieutenant 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Kino Lorber's 4K UHD presentation of "Bad Lieutenant" is an impressive technical achievement. Sourced from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, this release includes Dolby Vision and HDR10 grades, offering a notable upgrade over the previous 2010 Blu-ray from Lionsgate. The film, originally shot on 35mm using Arriflex 35 BL III and II C cameras, now showcases an enhanced color balance, with deeper blacks and improved contrast. The darker footage no longer appears anemic, and the visuals maintain excellent image stability without any digital corrections. The encode operates effectively between 80-90 mbps, ensuring that even the grainiest scenes are handled with precision.

The meticulous restoration has virtually eliminated prior instability issues, leaving only minimal traces of damage in the optically printed opening and closing credits. This new master reveals fine details previously obscured in the HD version. Fabrics on the suits worn by characters and facial textures exhibit incredible clarity, achieved through careful digital grading. Darker primaries and nuances are wonderfully rendered in both 4K and 1080p presentations, providing a flexible viewing experience that is significantly improved.

Ken Kelsch’s cinematography captures New York City’s gritty realism with remarkable authenticity. However, some interior sequences, particularly those shot on-the-fly or with pushed exposure, may display a slightly flat look with chunky grain. Nonetheless, these are intrinsic to the original negative and are handled judiciously in the new encode. The overall upgrade delivers a vivid rendition, turning this low-budget film into a visual treat while respecting its raw and uncompromised essence.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of Bad Lieutenant features both English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks, each supplemented with optional English SDH subtitles. The audio presentation marks an evolution from the previous Blu-ray edition, which included only the 2.0 mix. This upgrade provides a richer experience, especially notable in scenes with complex sound environments such as nightclub sequences. The dialogue is consistently clear and stable, although the film's many organic sounds and noises introduce occasional unevenness.

Given the film's original theatrical release in mono, the new mixes are understandably limited in surround channel activity, reflecting their mono origins. While the 5.1 track offers a marginally more expanded soundfield compared to the 2.0 track, it essentially represents a discrete encoding of the four matrixed channels present in earlier stereo surround remixes. Unfortunately, neither audio track can be considered a true surround sound experience. Balance between dialogue and music remains well-maintained, with no notable source damage, although the overall soundscape is necessarily constrained by the film's historical mono production.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray of "Bad Lieutenant" offers a robust selection of extras that provide both context and depth to this gritty classic. The archival audio commentary by Abel Ferrara and Ken Kelsch is invaluable, offering a mix of technical insight and candid humor about the film's production. The documentary "It All Happens Here" delves into the film's genesis and includes interviews with key members of the crew, providing a holistic view of its making. New material includes Michael Gingold's insightful location tour and Ken Kelsch's final interview, which gives an intimate look at his collaboration with Ferrara and the cinematic techniques employed. These extras are thoughtfully curated and will undoubtedly enrich the experience for fans and cinephiles alike.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary: Archival commentary with Abel Ferrara and Ken Kelsch.
• It All Happens Here: Abel Ferrara & the Making of Bad Lieutenant: Archival documentary on the film's production.
• Bad Neighborhoods: The Locations of Bad Lieutenant: Critic Michael Gingold revisits key filming locations.
• Ken & Abel: Ken Kelsch discusses his professional relationship with Ferrara.
• Trailer: Vintage trailer for the film.

Abel Ferrara’s "Bad Lieutenant" (1992) stands as a stark and profoundly unsettling exploration of moral decay wrapped in deeply religious undertones. Ferrara situates us in the grimy underbelly of early 1990s New York City, where Harvey Keitel's unnamed police lieutenant plummets into a vortex of addiction and corruption. This is a character who not just bends but shatters the law as he indulges in drugs, sex, and gambling, creating a vivid and jarringly authentic portrayal of personal and societal dysfunction. The film’s narrative structure is loose, reflecting the lieutenant’s chaotic life, yet it remains intense, purposefully fragmented to echo the fits and starts of a body writhing in addiction.

Keitel delivers an unflinchingly raw performance, embodying a man who is perpetually on the brink, driven by self-destructive impulses further exacerbated by two pivotal events: a highly anticipated baseball series between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the brutal rape of a young nun (Frankie Thorn). The former deepens his entanglement with dangerous bookies due to reckless betting, while the latter forces him into an existential crisis upon discovering the nun’s confounding forgiveness towards her assailants. These scenarios culminate in a narrative that does not shy away from depicting the emotional and physical tolls of addiction while interrogating themes of redemption and divine forgiveness.

"Bad Lieutenant," with its NC-17 rating, unabashedly dives into its debased subject matter, challenging viewers without glorifying its protagonist’s vices. Ferrara's refusal to sanitize Keitel's descent renders the film a powerful cautionary tale about the abyss of addiction. By eschewing straightforward storytelling for a more open-ended approach, Ferrara amplifies the thematic depth, compelling audiences to confront the messy, inexorable collapse of a man granted authority by the very societal structures he relentlessly subverts. The result is an uncompromisingly severe portrayal that remains an essential study in fallibility and human frailty.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "Bad Lieutenant" from Kino Lorber Studio Classics delivers a visually stunning and technically sophisticated presentation of Abel Ferrara's 1992 crime masterpiece. The 2160p resolution coupled with Dolby Vision HDR significantly enhances the raw and gritty visuals, ensuring the film's inherent ugliness has never looked so strikingly beautiful. Additionally, the release includes a substantial array of new and archival bonus features that provide deeper insight into the film's creation and its controversial reception.

While some may lament the absence of "Signifying Rapper"—which has been missing from all legitimate home video releases for over three decades—the overall quality of this edition more than compensates for any perceived shortfall. The faithful devotees may find solace in tracking down the 1993 LaserDisc audio, though synchronization with the new video requires additional effort. However, this is largely a non-issue given the exceptional audiovisual fidelity offered by this latest restoration, which remains true to Ferrara’s vision.

In conclusion, Abel Ferrara's "Bad Lieutenant" receives the high-caliber treatment it deserves with this 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. Harvey Keitel’s unforgettable performance as a tormented, suicidal lieutenant is presented with unprecedented clarity, revitalizing the film for contemporary audiences. This release is poised to appear on many top ten lists due to its excellent presentation and comprehensive bonus features. Very highly recommended.