King of New York | | Cast : | Christopher Walken, David Caruso | | Director : | Abel Ferrara | | Studio : | Lions Gate Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | September 28, 1990 | | DVD Released Date : | April 20, 2004 | | Language : | English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | X (Mature Audiences Only) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 21, 2005 | | Summary | A masterful Walken performance | Content
 | I am of the firm opinion that Christopher Walken is a national cinematic treasure who is woefully misunderstood and who, sadly, likely won't receive the accolades he deserves until after he's gone. Is there anything this multitalented performer can't pull off? Walken can imbue characters with astonishingly deep dimensions as evidenced in his gut wrenching performances in "The Deer Hunter" and "The Dead Zone." He's also a comedic talent; some of the funniest episodes of "Saturday Night Live" I ever saw were ones hosted by Christopher Walken. He was so great in them that he could easily have joined the cast. The guy can even sing and dance like a professional. Walken's best roles, however, always seem to come in movies where he plays the villain. He was great as Max Zorin in Roger Moore's last James Bond entry, "From a View to a Kill," arguably the best villain to ever grace that franchise. But Walken's portrayals of mob type criminals garner the most acclaim, and that's where Abel Ferrara's "King of New York" comes in. This movie succeeds because of Christopher Walken, no doubt about it, and it's one of the best performances I've seen him deliver. Too bad the movie can't keep up with his performance.
Walken plays Frank White, a jailed drug kingpin who walks out of prison at the beginning of the film. The fact that a limousine takes him to a posh apartment at the Plaza proves this is a man with a lot of money and, after we see his heartfelt reunion with a posse of black gangsters, a man with enormous power. Frank's arrival back on the streets is met with indifference by some of the big mafia chieftains, who think his dependence on minorities is a sign of weakness. It's really no problem for White, however, as he guns down one of the Italians at a card game and thus proves that his power is absolute and unshakable. Life isn't just killing made members of the mob or ordering the executions of Columbian drug dealers; it's also about actualizing some plans Frank came up with in the stir. Prison can change a person, and it's obviously changed our anti-hero to some extent. At a big city affair filled with movers and shakers from both sides of the law, White expresses interest in saving a children's hospital with a multi-million dollar infusion of cash. Perhaps he's just acting out of character to throw a curveball to those on the straight and narrow. Perhaps he really wants to help out his fellow citizens.
Of course, if his intention to help those less fortunate than himself is truly a legitimate enterprise, it's funny that Frank can't seem to break away from his criminal endeavors. He continues to run his multiracial gang, and even enlarges his gang by offering to hire a couple of street thugs after they attempt to rob him one night on the subway. The police watching Frank White wheel and deal are convinced that his attempts at reform are bogus. Disgusted that every attempt to put this guy away forever seems to fail, a cadre of police officers--Dennis Gilley (David Caruso), Thomas Flanigan (Wesley Snipes), and Roy Bishop (Victor Argo)--decide to pursue decidedly extralegal methods to bring Frank White and his gang down. The result is, predictably, a bloody war in which no one is safe from sudden and violent death. "King of New York" also highlights the moral ambiguity involved in big city crime, namely crime revolving around drug trafficking. The illicit profits brought in through the sale of narcotics debase everyone even remotely associated with drugs, from the police to the poor to the politicians. Everyone stands to win or lose, mostly lose, because of their association with drugs. Even Frank White, as powerful as he seems, could very well lose everything thanks to his chosen profession.
It's a bit tricky to provide a thorough summary of "King of New York" because there isn't much of a plot beyond the simple battle between good guys and bad, and how even the men in white hats can fall off their high horse when battling a pervasive evil like drugs. We've seen that theme played out in a million movies portraying organized crime. Nothing new here except that director Ferrara, known for his gritty realism and symbolic images always set against the backdrop of a crime addled New York City, manages to make "King of New York" stand out because of a great cast. Not only do we have Walken in one of his most subtle roles, we've also got Caruso and Snipes in early parts. Laurence Fishburne shows up too in a frightening turn as White's main enforcer Jump, a treacherous goon with a propensity for gunning down anyone who stands in his way. Throw in Giancarlo Esposito and Steve Buscemi in minor roles and you've got all the makings for a fine film. Ferrara tosses out plenty of violent shootouts, some car chases, and lots of menacing dialogue to keep the film zipping along. New York City, as in other Ferrara pictures, is a major character in the film. The city provides the necessary bleak atmosphere against which these actors live and die.
The film's major failing is an ability to fully flesh out the characters. Some of the performers pop up once or twice and then disappear forever, leaving the audience to wonder what happened to them. Too, the motivations of Frank White never receive as much attention as we would like. Why exactly is he planning to help out that hospital? I don't think the movie ever makes this clear. And how does a white guy get along this well with minority gang members? Oh well, the movie still entertains and is one of the better entries in the early 1990s resurgence of crime films with an inner city motif. Fans of Walken should run, not walk, to obtain a copy of "King of New York" if they haven't done so already.
|
| Rating | | | Date | June 26, 2005 | | Summary | A Very Overlooked Classic! | Content
| One of the best films I had never seen... Walken is dynomite, as cool or cooler as he ever is! Lawrence Fishburn steals the show! Also watch for Steve Buscemi, who unfortunately gets no chance to shine in this... Overall, an awesome, not so well known flick, overshadowed by your Godfather III's and your New Jack City's... Go Rent this today! |
| Rating | | | Date | June 18, 2005 | | Summary | No Blackjack, No Dopedeals, No Nothing....... | Content
| Delivery within the realm of Scarface and Goodfellas...!!! King Of New York demands respect in its own right. Featuring Christopher Walken as Frank White (A Continuos Biggy reference), recently released from prison, the streets of NY become his playground. With a crew that many refuse to accept beacuse of race (including a young Laurence Fishburne), Walken begins to take over a city that has forgotten him. Starting with the competition of his colombian and asian drug counterparts Walken soon rises to the top of the drug empire, all the while maintaining an persona that the NYPD will not standby and accept.
David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, and Victor Argo make up the trio of cops dedicated to rid the city of all drug activity including that of Frank White, from then on it becomes a personal vendetta leading to a somewhat disappointing climax. This is the reason the movie doesn't reach 5 star status. Without spoiling the movie you come to expect more from Walken as far as a standoff or confrontation resulting in a mass shootout of some kind which is not the case.
Overall this is definitely among the top gangsta/druglord flicks you can find and will not leave you dissapointed.
|
| Rating | | | Date | March 29, 2005 | | Summary | Hollow Gangster Pic | Content
| "King of New York" looks right, feels right, smells right, but somehow doesn't come off alright. It just shapes up as a fairly hollow picture. What makes matters worse is this film serves as an inspiration to the worst element of the gangster culture in this country. Christopher Walken, a normally dependable actor, does not add any shading to his character, drug kingpin/philanthropist Frank White. He just seems to glower and shoot off his piece. Laurence Fishburne, an equally fine actor, overplays his role as Frank's triggerman. The best performance delivered in this film is by David Caruso as a cop who seethes at how Frank and his ilk sidestep the law. Interesting, Wesley Snipes, who plays Caruso's partner, assayed a better portrait of a drug kingpin a few years later in "New Jack City". At least that film had the semblance of a moral compass. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 07, 2005 | | Summary | lousy | Content
| I can't believe some of the reviews that this movie is getting. There's no character development, no storyline, just a lot of over-the-top acting and boring scenes. Christopher Walken, while a good actor, can only play one role. Here he is, as dry as ever. I felt no empathy for any of the characters in fact. What a waste of time. |
|
