I read another review here who said don't watch this film with loudmouth know it all. Have an open mind. In other words, if you don't agree that this is a great film, there's something wrong with you!
Like this film, the reviewer is a pretentious buffoon.
Let me say that I really like Ferrara and think The Bad Lieutenant is a GREAT movie. Up there with the Godfather. And I mean that.
Unfortunately, that may be the only good film he's ever made.
In 444 we spend nearly 10 minutes watching Dafoe shave. Then he gets his nipples licked for another 3 or so. Before having his pubes rubbed. Compelling stuff -- not. It's just all pretentious.
The girl (a painter) asks him in the beginning why he bothers shaving if the world is ending. Well a better question might be, why are you continuing to paint? Shaving takes a few minutes, you're painting for the whole movie. Idiot.
And so goes the movie. I wanted to like it. I'm looking for the impact of Bad Lieutenant, but got a sorry slow uninteresting story.
Dafoe is surprisingly stiff and shows no acting ability at all. Guess he had to make the best of what he got in the terms of a script. Plus, he's supposed to be a successful actor in the movie, but lives in a hovel and complains about rent increases -- he doesn't even own the shoe box!
And why is everyone so calm? Let's be honest, if the end was really coming it would be lootig and pandemonium. As you might expect, the film has a completely unsatisfying ending. Why should the end be any different?