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24 out of 28 people found the following comment useful :- The Cinema of Abel Ferrara: King of New York., 15 August 2005 Author: Captain_Couth (sirjosephu@aol.com) from Sacramento, CA
King of New York (1990) was Abel Ferrara's return to the his favorite style of film making (the urban street drama). Over the past fifteen years, this movie has achieved a cult status that one would have never imagined. During it's initial release on video, this film was a word-of-mouth hit. I remembered watching this in high school. Although the movie was never a major box office hit, film found an audience when it was released on tape. But the movie's popularity grew even more when rappers made numerous of references to it in music and song.Christopher Walken stars as a crime lord who has done a stint in prison. Upon his release he begins to rebuild his fledging empire through violence and strong arming. Whilst he rotted in prison, his rivals became strong as they gobbled up his business. With time on his side, Frank launches a plan that'll make him KING OF NEW YORK. Can Frank do it by himself? How will the local authorities re-act to his new found activities? Will his soldiers remain loyal? What will his rivals do? To find out you'll just have to watch it!!I found this movie to be very good. Abel Ferrara has found his niche audience and he should cater to it. He has a style that a director like Martin Scorese once had.Highly recommended.
31 out of 43 people found the following comment useful :- Walken Is The "King", 12 March 2001 Author: jhclues from Salem, Oregon
The ruthless underbelly of the New York criminal world is examined somewhat graphically in `King of New York,' directed by Abel Ferrara, and starring Christopher Walken. Upon release from prison, New York crime boss Frank White (Walken), determines to become a major player in the city's underworld and wastes no time in putting the wheels of his plan in motion. Among the major obstacles he encounters are King Tito (Ernest Abuba) and Larry Wong (Joey Chin), both kingpins of their respective organizations, veteran detective Roy Bishop (Victor Argo), and Dennis Gilley (David Caruso), a young, hot-headed Irish cop who seemingly single-handedly wants to take back the city from the riffraff who control it and seem somehow impervious to prosecution. None of which matters to White, who is adamant in his quest to become the King of New York. Though hard-hitting and excessively violent, Ferrara's film lacks the grittiness of say, Scorsese's `Mean Streets,' or `Taxi Driver,' but nevertheless makes an impact, due mainly to the unfettered violence, as well as the subtle, understated menace Walken brings to the role of Frank White. There's an edginess that permeates the film and the characters who bring it all to life, with the exception of White, who-- as played by Walken-- is the picture of restraint, the eye in the center of the storm. And it's that cold, soulless, almost haunted look of his that makes him so disconcerting. It's the contrast between his calm demeanor (which threatens to explode at any moment) and the overt violence with which he is surrounded, that gives him that sense of power, and it's also one of the strengths of the film. There is definitely something unsettling about Walken's presence in a role like this (and indeed with many of the characters he's portrayed in his many films); he has a natural ability and the looks-- which he uses so well to his advantage-- to convey the very essence of evil in all it's myriad forms. If they is any doubt, check him out in `Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead,' and `Sleepy Hollow,' just to mention a couple. He has the tools to make you believe his characters, and with adroit skill he uses them all, as he does here with his creation of White; and his performance is one of the highlights of the movie. Walken doesn't have the floor to himself in that regard, however, as Laurence Fishburne (billed here as `Larry') gives a memorable, high-powered performance as well, as Jump, White's main man who provides the muscle for his organization. Fishburne pulls out all the stops and laces Jump with high voltage energy that never runs out, while taking a page from the John Woo Book by brandishing pistols in both hands at once, which serves to enhance his lethal potential. And his over-the-top, in-your-face attitude is the perfect antithesis to Walken's calm, and is in it's own way just as disturbing in the aloof disregard of-- and lack of respect for-- life. I guarantee this is one pair of hoodlums you will not soon forget. The supporting cast includes Wesley Snipes (Thomas), Janet Julian (Jennifer), Giancarlo Esposito (Lance), Paul Calderon (Joey) and Steve Buscemi (Test Tube). Ferrara's film is fast paced and relentless, and he adds a nice touch to the ending that contrasts well with all that precedes it, and yet `King of New York,' even with the outstanding performances of Walken and Fishburne, never quite captures that elusive something that would've taken it above and beyond the average crime action/drama. It does have it's moments, however, and the aforementioned performances alone are worth the price of admission. Just don't come to this one expecting anything extraordinary; it's a good movie, but the Oscars will have to wait for another day. I rate this one 6/10.
29 out of 40 people found the following comment useful :- King of the Genre, 11 February 1999 Author: Doctor_Bombay from Lucas Buck, NC
Do you like Christopher Walken movies? The good, the deep psychological studies, the creepy pseudo-underworld /misfit characters that have unfortunately typecast one of America's greatest and multi-talented contemporary actors?Do you like Abel Ferrara movies? The down in the muck, inner-city examinations of the seedier motivations and lifestyles-the side of life many of us would like to ignore, but are intrigued by nonetheless?Low budget and a lot of conjones are trademarks of Ferrara's films (Fear City, The Addiction, The Funeral) and this is no exception, but the term stylish is defined here..You see, you hear, you FEEL the environment-the nasty low morality hustlers of the five burroughs………….Much congrats to Alex Tovoularis' production design.King of New York may not be as famous as Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant in the world of the cinema-geek, but maybe it should be.Joe Delia's haunting soundtrack is a perfect compliment to Bojan Bazelli's moody visuals-Walken's confrontation scene of the old-style Mafiosos is as classic as it is intense.Man, do I love this movie.
24 out of 36 people found the following comment useful :- Ferrara & Walken Make a Great Team, 13 September 2000 Author: marquis de cinema from Boston, MA
King of New York(1990) is an excellent movie that is Abel Ferrara's most stylish film. As years go by, King of New York is a film that will be more respected and seen as an example of Ferrara's best work. It was the second best gangster film in 1990 next to Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. The direction is surpurb and the characters are filled with colorful traits.King of New York(1990) is a modern reworking of the Robin Hood legend. Its basically about a former drug lord who wants to use drug money to help poor and unfortunate people. Christopher Walken gives one of his five top best performances in the role of Frank. The feature is a neo noir because there are no people except for a couple that are likable.The violence in this film is very brutal and done with plenty of flair. Frank's plans do not work out as everyone is out to get him(espically the police). Frank is a person who's alive on the outside but dead on the inside. King of New York has been compared to Scarface(1983) but I believe that this movie is closer in spirit to Ringo Lam's City on Fire(1987) and the two Chow Yun Fat/Andy Lau films of Rich & Famous(1986) and Tragic Hero(1987).Laurence Fishburne gives a very good performance as Frank's loyal right hand man. In fact, all of the action sequences involving him makes the actor the Hollywood B-movie eqevulent of Chow Yun Fat with his two gun act. Steve Buscemi has a bit part as a rival drug dealer. I only wished that the idea of putting a contract on the police was expanded on with a few scenes of many police officers being assassinated by Frank's men.One scene that is terrific is the scene where the police dressed up as drug dealers who raid and try to terminate Frank and his gang. Another excellent scene is the funeral sequence. The ending is unusually low key for a mafia flick. I would like to see a director's cut of this film released on video because I feel that something's missing from the R-rated version.
17 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :- To Frank he made it!, 4 July 2004 Author: arthurclay from Italy
"From now on nothing goes down unless I'm involved. No blackjack, no dope deals, no nothing. A nickel bag gets sold in the park I want in!" And so it goes. Walken gives the performance of his career as Frank White, The King of New York. Walken is both captivating and convincing as the drug lord with a conscience and the ice cold killer who will stop at nothing to redeem himself. Released from prison, he is now "reformed" and ready to once again ascend to the very top of the drug pyramid with the help of his very loyal black street crew. Hit after hit of top mob bosses in the city brings him closer to his goal of building a new hospital but unfortunately draws the attention of a demented police squad determined to put Frank outta business...permanently. To just call these cops "dirty" would be a disservice to dirty cops. They are also crazy and not afraid to implement their own brand of justice. The cops are p***ed off that Frank is taking over and they can't do anything about it. So the detectives plan to take Frank out themselves. They are headed by a detective who cannot control them yet wants to see Frank go so badly that he doesn't have the heart to stop them. This leads to a showdown between Frank's dangerous black Mafia and the corrupt coppers. Frank responds to their attempts to foil him by putting out contracts on the police. I heard that when this was shown at the Sundance Film Festival critics expected to see something nice and cheery about New York based on the title alone. When they saw this movie they were shocked and never invited director Abel Ferrara back. This tells me two things that (1)this is very funny and I wish I had been there to see their reactions myself and (2)most critics have absolutely NO IDEA what cinema is all about and the same goes for viewers who expect all movies to have redeeming social values, teach a moral lesson, and give them that warm fuzzy feeling inside. King of New York had a great supporting cast, skillful direction, and a solid script. And watch for Frank Gio as mob boss Arty Clay he was awesome! It is a gangster classic that never waivers in its intentions and I will be highly anticipating the long awaited prequel to this film.
14 out of 19 people found the following comment useful :- Quite a mess, 29 July 2005 Author: JussiUt from Finland
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Abel Ferrara tries but unfortunately fails to create competition to a genre which is dominated by 'Scarface'. King of New York had the potential to be something great but in the end it only manages to frustrate you.The whole plot in itself is amazingly simple. I mean, where's the originality? A guy called Frank White (Cristopher Walken) gets out of prison, kills everybody just like that (I guess it's that easy, huh) and then he rules New York. Then some cops get angry with Frank because he's a criminal (that's the most deepest part in this movie, cops are supposed to be "complex" individuals...) and they decide to kill him. Then there's some shooting and more shooting and finally everybody's dead.A plot could actually be that simple if there was something extra in it - something interesting to spice things up - a great character, interesting details or ultimately anything to separate this film from the masses. Unfortunately King of New York doesn't have anything to offer in that area. They have obviously tried to deepen Walken's character but they fail miserably. In fact that's the case with all the other characters too. Walken's supposed to be this guy who cares about the poor but this is shown in what, two scenes? Same thing with the police, when they all get killed I don't feel anything because I haven't related to them. Furthermore the dialog is mediocre at best and you can't really call it original.The biggest problem of this movie is that it's not coherent at all. The scenes are in many occasions completely unattached to each other and the whole movie ends up being like a mess. The atmosphere in the film is good - Ferrara is able to depict the brutality and the overall mood well but otherwise the directing is just average. For example the opening scene is way too long. I'd understand it if the movie was an epic or a masterpiece but now it just seems completely irrelevant and tiring to spend at least five minutes following a guy who gets out of prison without dialog. Same thing with the final scene - it drags too long. I guess if you enjoyed the movie the final scene could work but for me after a messy 1,5 hours it just works as an icing in the cake what comes to frustration.I guess the main point I'm trying to say is that this movie had potential but it never delivered. The characters are paper thin thanks to awful cutting and the plot is just oversimplified. In the end this movie offers you nothing but frustration and gore.
10 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :- Style Over Substance, 13 October 2005 Author: jack_thursby from United States
This is a strange movie. The IMDb trivia notes for the movie state that the director and writer spent five years working on the script, yet the story is disjointed and doesn't have a strong plot. The story basically follows the life of drug kingpin Frank White (Christopher Walken) after he is released from prison and re-enters the criminal world to reclaim his drug empire. However, there's not much character development and many of the characters are one dimensional. And the movie could be called over-stylized.Yet, somehow it all works and this movie, while not a classic, could be considered a cult classic for its great cinematography, superb acting performances, tense action sequences, its cinematic risk taking and its outright coolness. For a movie shot in the late 80's (released in 1990) its ahead of its time.Christopher Walken gives a great performance as Frank White. Many viewers who may only know Walken from his more recent appearances as "the weird but cool guy" will be surprised by the multifaceted performance he gives here. The late Victor Argo's performance as White's nemesis on the police force, Roy Bishop, should also be noted. Argo gives a note perfect, yet nuanced portrayal, of a weary, "seen it all" cop who is determined to get his man.Wesley Snipes and Laurence Fishburne were still early in their film careers while appearing in this movie, but you can clearly see the qualities that would make them stars. Both bring depth and realism to their otherwise stock characters. David Caruso also does a great job with his character. One of the shortcomings of the movie is that there's no strong female lead... Frank White has a relationship with one of his attorney's, Jennifer (Janet Julian), but the script leaves out a lot of details (e.g., why they are together in the first place). In fact, all the women in this movie look like models which only adds to the stylized unreality the movie creates.Finally, I have to mention the oldschool rap soundtrack which fits the proceedings to a "t".If you are a fan of crime/action movies, "King of New York" comes recommended, but fair warning, its not your typical gangsta flick.
6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :- Characters are a bit one-note, but Ferrara's direction is intriguing and Walken is great as usual, 13 January 2007 Author: TimothyFarrell from Worcester, MA
Abel Ferrara as a director has his ups and downs. In his entire career, the only masterpiece he made was "Bad Lieutenant". However, the rest of his films are always interesting if never completely successful. "King of New York" is a very offbeat crime film and will not appeal to those seeking another "Goodfellas". However, the film eventually won me over because of its dreamlike atmosphere. This is one of the more surreal mob films I've seen. Most of the characters are a bit one-note, but Ferrara's direction is intriguing and Walken is great as usual. The film is slowly paced which, along with the bizarreness, makes it very inaccessible.Walken turns in his most Walken performance. I'll leave that up to you as being a good thing or not, but personally I love the man. He is strange as all hell and unnerving at moments but is memorable all the same. I'm not sure if the humor was intentional, but there's something hilarious about watching Walken dancing to Schooly D surrounded by marijuana smoke. The supporting cast is one of the most bizarre ever assembled and is truly once in a lifetime. Laurence Fishburne's character is a blaxploitation throwback stereotype but easily steals the show. Victor Argo, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Janet Julian, and Paul Calderon are all good in their roles. "King of New York" is definitely not for everyone, but those interested in more offbeat and dreamlike films will enjoy it. Its more of an art film than an action film. (7/10)
17 out of 28 people found the following comment useful :- This Is One Mean Story, 7 January 2006 Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States
Now here's a film with a mean edge....very mean....almost too mean. If I didn't like Christopher Walken (and who doesn't?) I wouldn't have watched this low- life trash. But Walken makes the trash fashionable somehow. Plus, I always like looking at great nighttime shots of New York City.A nice job of restoration was done on this latest two-disc DVD. The film finally looks good. This is stylishly filmed, too.Story-wise, as mentioned, it's very rough, lots of f-words, and a simple story of a crime boss who is released from jail and is trying to reclaim his hold on the city's mob scene.It's an interesting cast. Besides Walken is a trio of actors who wound up becoming stars: David Caruso (a TV star), Lawrence Fishburne and Wesley Snipes. All of them are nasty, too. Sometimes they make Walken look good in comparison. Unfortunately, two of those guys are cops and filmmakers love to make the cops into unlikable bad guys. They certainly are here.So, if you're feeling ornery and want to take out some hostility without hurting anyone or anything, just flip this disc in your DVD and it should be what the doctor ordered. If you can relate to any of these people in this movie, call a minister, priest, rabbi or psychiatrist. You need help.
5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :- Simply not believable, 15 January 2002 Author: (natt@svart.com) from Stockholm, Sweden
I disliked this film immensly because of its low credibility. There is no way anyone can get away with what Frank White does (there are witnesses, tens of them, there is evidence that would make FBI go bananas and catch White within the week) and even if he gets away with it there is no way the police would get away with what they did. Everyone should have simply been caught by the feds and put away.The massacres in the movie would also have been CNN stuff for weeks - overshadowing the Gulf War (if the movie is indeed set in 1990).I also find White´s death disturbing. If indeed he gets away with everything so easily and can outsmart other criminal masterminds so easily, why would a fat stupid cop be able to kill him? It seemed that Frank just had to die and the writer couldn´t find another way to get rid of him for his climactic ending.The movie is somewhat saved by Walken and Fishbourne. I liked Fishbourne's character immensly. He was extremely savage and evil, but he was undyingly loyal to his boss, something which is rare in these movies. Loyalty is a force which is not often used in this kind of movies.I rated this movie 5 out of 10 for the good actors and the very good shootout scenes.
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