Ben McManus Jesus and The Bad Lieutenant

Ben McManus

Jesus and The Bad Lieutenant

Andrew Dominik’s 2007 film The Assassination of Jesse James contains a scene in which Jesse rides through the night with Ed Miller, an old friend he plans to murder. Ed knows, almost to a certainty, that he can expect a bullet in his back at any moment. As Ed gazes at the stars in contemplation, he remarks, “I don’t even know what a star is exactly.” To which Jesse responds, “You don’t. But your body knows”

Now it might sound obscure, but this illustrates the relationship I once had with Abel Ferrara’s 1992 film Bad Lieutenant. Not to be confused with Werner Herzog's 2009 film of the same title. Though that is also a great movie.

(Don’t worry. I promise, I’ll get to the Bible soon enough)

For readers that haven’t seen it: The film trudges along behind an unnamed police Lieutenant, played by Harvey Keitel. Five minutes in, we think Keitel’s bad news: He’s using cocaine as a regular substitute for coffee. Ten minutes in, we know he’s bad news: He’s confiscating heroin from one dealer, only to sell it to another. By twenty minutes, we can barely watch this guy as he uses his authority to exploit a pair of teenage girls. And it only gets worse... Seriously. All the while, he falls deeper and deeper into dept with a violent bookie. In a desperate effort to score some cash, Keitel attempts to track down two boys who brutally raped a young nun, his motive being the cash reward. Unfortunately, Keitel’s efforts only drag him deeper into the depths of his immorality, and deeper into dept. His dept eventually becomes so great, that even the cash reword won’t save him. Keitel realizes he’s finished. He couldn’t pay the dept, even if he found the boys, and there’s no chance of forgiveness from the Bookie. So, Keitel asks forgiveness from the only person who could stand to give it. He breaks down in an empty church. He cries and moans like a full-grown infant.

He’s truly sorry for the many bad things he’s done. See for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qI60RZ0Gr4

It’s a repulsive sight, and yet, I find a strange presence of beauty in this moment. I haven’t always understood it, but I’ve always felt it.

Just as Keitel lets out the last of it, an old woman, who has heard his cries, helps him up. She explains that she knows where the rapists can be found. Keitel goes. He finds the culprits. He cuffs them, and loads them into his car. We think, “well, maybe the cash will be enough to, at least, by Keitel more time.” but he doesn’t bother with it. Instead, Keitel takes the boys to a bus station. Under the heavy influence of crack, Keitel tries to explain that he forgives them. He then empties his wallet into their pockets, puts them on a bus out of town, and sends them on their way. Ten or so minutes later, Keitel’s car window shatters as a bullet passes through his head.

Magnificent stuff.... But I don’t say that because I’ve always understood it. Intellectually, the conclusion of the film confused me. Why did he let the rapists go? Why did he give them his money? Wouldn’t the right thing have been to at least stop the only guys worse than him self? Did he do all this just because he was too high to know the difference? I didn’t get it. I liked it, but I didn’t get it.

It wasn’t until I came across a few lines in Luke Seven, that I understood Keitel’s actions:

“Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

By the time Keitel finds the rapists, it’s to late for his body. The cash reward won’t be enough to prevent his murder, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late for his soul. Keitel knows what it feels like to do true evil, and so, he also knows what it feels like to be truly sorry. For this, God or maybe just some old women, takes mercy on him. Keitel can’t help but acknowledge and respect this. As a result, he extends the same mercy to two young men who are even worse than he is. You could argue in favor of the drugs, but in his last moments, it seems our Bad Lieutenant finds true piece.