Sergeant Terence McDonagh is not a great cop but when he rescues a prisoner from a flooded cell in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he is decorated and promoted to lieutenant. He is also prescribed pain killers to help with a back injury sustained at the time. Six months later he is taking more than prescription drugs. As well as taking various illegal substances he has increasing gambling debts and is in a relationship with a prostitute named Frankie.

When five illegal immigrants, including children, are murdered in an apparently drug related case he is put in charge of catching those responsible. His methods are definitely unconventional... and sometimes unconstitutional. He also appears to be as keen to get more drugs as to solve the case. Along the way he crosses some very dangerous characters who are a threat to him and those around him.

I really enjoyed this film; it is delightfully over the top at times. Nicolas Cage is on great form as McDonagh; he gives a manic performance that makes it easy to believe that his characters is on something. He really carries the film. The rest of the cast is solid too; Eva Mendes impresses as Frankie and Fairuza Balk was fun as McDonagh's traffic cop friend despite her relatively short appearance. Director Werner Herzog keeps the story moving at a good pace and while occasionally things get surreal he never lets things tip over the being pretentious... I even liked the lizards! Overall I'd definitely recommend this to fans of cop dramas looking for something very different; it may not be to everybody's taste but it worked for me providing a good central story and more laughs than expected.