Can you imagine what a stoned cop can do?
The only criminal he can’t catch is ... himself.
This film is not just another “cop story”. There are rumours that Nicolas Cage used cocaine to make his role of hallucinating stoned cop working on homicide as realistic as possible. Scene: magical New Orleans right after the hurricane Catherine.
No one knows, whether the story with the cocaine is true: maybe exept the director of the film Werner Herzog who is known to be demanding maniac capable of taking his actors across the limits of their abilities. After playing at various film festivals, the film has, thus far, been awarded generally positive reviews by critics. The critics praise this film, compare it to the ones of Quentin Tarantino or Cohen brothers and acknowledge it to be the “film of the decade” for Nicolas Cage.
Nicolas Cage is Terrence McDonagh - a New Orleans Police Sergeant who has recently received a meda and a promotion to Lieutenant for his heroism. After he injured his back when saving a prosoner after the hurricane, he becomes addicted to prescription pain medication and quickly graduates to cocaine, heroin, crack and marijuana. The film follows McDonagh as he investigates the murder of a family of Senagalese immigrants while dealing with his drug addictions, gambling debts and other personal problems - passionate, yet twisted relationships with a high-class prostitute (Eva Mendes) among them - while routinely and flagrantly abusing his authority when his gun is being used more frequently then his badge.
The film is drenched in Werner Herzog’s unique perspective on reality (let’s not forget his huge experience in documentary) as well as sharp sarcasm and dark humour. The result of all these factors is an unforgetable story which is equally sad and playful.
Director: Werner Herzog
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner.