KING OF NEW YORK (1990) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Abel Ferrara

Written by - Nicholas St. John

Starring - Christopher Walken

"A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out his competition and distribute the profits to New York's poor. The provocation is crystal clear in KING OF NEW YORK, which stands as one of ABEL FERRARA's most revered works. 

Some may find its morality upsetting, its balance is sometimes blatantly shifted to side with the crooks more than the law, and therefore some question it as a commendable work. In reality, this is a film that is meant to leave such impressions on the viewer, and what makes it so precisely powerful is that instead of infusing some type of cinematic energy of angered tone, such as the one that may be featured in exposé films, KING OF NEW YORK chronicles this modern day robin hood take as if it were representing a known fact. As such, there are some jagged edges in its narrative, that doesn't flow with fluidity. Of course, this is a provocation that reflects the intent of the film. 

CHRISTOPHER WALKEN delivers a career defining performance as the leading character of Frank White. He is a very enigmatic figure, portrayed in a starkly non-judgemental way by FERRARA, so that until the end we do not know whether we are meant to love him or loathe him. In many ways, Frank White is one of the ultimate antiheroes in American cinema history, that recalls those of the earlier capers, noirs and gangster flicks whilst at the same time being rooted to its times. 

Gripping action sequences, shoot outs and car chases also put KING OF NEW YORK on the run as arguably one of the most action packed films by FERRARA, and make it all the more entertaining."

Thriller, Italy/USA/UK