He has survived on the streets for twenty years. He’s a gambler. A thief. A junkie. A killer. A cop. Now he’s investigating the most shocking case of his life, and as he moves closer to the truth, his self-destructive past is closing in. NYC auteur/provocateur Abel Ferrara (The Driller Killer, King of New York) and co-writer Zoë Lund (Ms. 45) gaze unflinchingly into the life of a Bad Lieutenant. Starring screen legend Harvey Keitel (Mean Streets, Reservoir Dogs) at his most brilliant and brutal in what is perhaps the most incendiary and notorious film of the 1990s. The stellar supporting cast includes Victor Argo (Taxi Driver) and Paul Calderon (The Last Castle).

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Video Quality

Bad Lieutenant debuts on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a drop-dead gorgeous 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer derived from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. This release does come with a Blu-Ray disc which is derived from the same 4K master. The film was released by Lionsgate on Blu-Ray in 2017, and that release was rightfully criticized for being underwhelming and poorly saturated. Thankfully, this transfer offers a night and day difference. Even going off a cursory glance at the new Blu-Ray, it is easy to see that there are some notable improvements with the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

With the 4K UHD release, the transfer is as close to ideal as we could wish for a film of this nature with essentially nothing in the way of softness or fluctuation. The Dolby Vision provides very authentic, deep colors throughout which captures the somewhat subdued palette while still discovering nuances within the grimy environment and lighting choices. Black levels are especially deep and allow the image to maintain a surprising amount of depth and detail in the numerous darker environments. A great deal of this movie takes place at night or in dingy locales, so this detail is critical. Highlights are likewise more refined with greater stability while avoiding instances of blooming.

The incredible, dense natural film grain remains intact while always resolving naturally free of clumping and swarming. Cinematographer Ken Kelsch has a great eye for composition and framing, and every detail in the foreground and background is accounted for when it is intended. You are treated to so much texture and detail within the transfer which brings out disgusting new dimensions to the feature. Skin tones are consistent, and the clarity of the transfer gives you a striking amount of facial detail. The command over the contrast and overall clarity is never in question, especially in subtle details within the production design and the clothing. Kino Classics has brought this intense film to life for a new generation.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents the movie with a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio lossless track that captures the narrative very well. This presentation is nuanced while maintaining its artistic integrity. The visceral dialogue comes through clearly and works well with competing elements. The directionality of all sounds is precise throughout with no unnatural placement. The surround channels provide a bit of immersive texture to the world as each space reveals a world of nuance that allows them to feel lived-in and bustling.

The low end kicks into gear when shots are fired or other natural urban sounds kick in rich texture. There is not too much music to be heard in this one, but what is present holds up well. Fans should not count on hearing any songs infamously removed from the movie newly restored – legal barriers are in place and it is unlikely to ever happen. The track deftly balances many layers of sound so nothing turns into a sonic mess. This audio presentation matches the efforts of the video side of things. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Abel Ferrera and Cinematographer Ken Kelsch deliver a terrific archival commentary track in which they recall various aspects of the production including the development of different scenes, the shooting locations, the visual aesthetic of the film, the casting and collaborative process, memories of the performers, homages to other filmmakers, and much more that gives rich details that fans should appreciate.

It All Happens Here – Abel Ferrara and The Making of Bad Lieutenant: A 34-minute archival piece that looks at the creation of the film through pre-production, production, post-production, and fallout. There are great interviews with Ferrara, the creatives behind the scenes, and even film critics.

Bad Neighborhoods – The Locations of Bad Lieutenant: A new nearly 16-minute featurette that takes a look at the locations featured in the film compared to how they look today.

Ken & Abel – Interview with Cinematographer Ken Kelsch: A new 15-minute interview with the late cinematographer in which he discusses getting involved with Ferrara, an early fallout he had with the filmmaker, working on Bad Lieutenant, the composition of various shots, how they pulled off certain scenes, and more that is very illuminating.

Trailers: There is a three-and-a-half-minute trailer provided for Bad Lieutenant. There are also trailers provided for Blue Collar, The Border, Clockers, City of Industry, and Red Dragon.

Final Thoughts

Bad Lieutenant is a true gut punch of a film that is not for the faint of heart. Abel Ferrara is one of the most uncompromising filmmakers in the game, and this feels like the purest distillation of the man as an artist. When you first watch this one, it is understandable if you are turned off by any number of things. Nevertheless, the movie is likely to linger with you and call back for deeper exploration. Ferrara has crafted a tale of faith and redemption unlike anything else you are likely to see. Harvey Keitel puts on a fearless performance that has to be seen from beginning to end to be truly appreciated. Like any Ferrara film, the movie is tough, but it is worth your time. Kino Classics has given this one a 4K UHD Blu-Ray upgrade with a wonderful A/V presentation and some rewarding new and legacy special features. Fans of the film should consider this an essential purchase. Recommended

Bad Lieutenant is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray and Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.