Harvey Keitel delivers his greatest performance in this bleak drama

Few actors have proved as willing to accept challenging, risky roles as Harvey Keitel. Other actors have achieved more fame, won more awards and made bigger hits, but none have been as courageous.

'Bad Lieutenant' is the film in which Keitel went deeper than ever before. As the lieutenant of the title he blurs the lines between cop and criminal. His married life is a sham, he drops the kids at school but can't wait to get them out of the car to get his first fix. When he breaks up a robbery he takes the cash for himself. He is under no illusions, he knows he is bad but is too far down the road to change.

This film is not an easy watch. The lieutenant slips deeper into degredation, drinking, stealing, taking drugs. In one of the films most disturbing scenes he pulls over two teenage girls and subjects them to what can only be described as verbal rape.

And yet, when a local nun is raped the lieutenant sees this as his chance for redemption. This will divide viewers, how bad can a man be and still deserve salvation?

The film is directed by Abel Ferrara but it's Keitel's picture. This is not acting, this is a man stripped to his soul for the camera. Ferrara wisely give the whole film over to his leading man whose shockingly brilliant display helps paper over some of the cracks in the narrative. As the lieutenant slips towards his nadir, Keitel reaches his zenith.