Review of King of New York (1990) by John M — 05 Apr 2012
Abel Ferrara's King of New York is a stylish, action packed gangster-thriller with an insanely good cast (most of whom were unknown at the time). The story is sort of a modern take on Robin Hood. Christopher Walken plays Frank White, a cool-headed gangster recently released from a lengthy prison sentence. Once released, White takes charge of his old gang, and goes about his old ways, but with the intention of using his profits to build a hospital in a poverty-stricken area of the city.
The cast includes an absolutely excellent Laurence Fishburne (credited as Larry Fishburne) a Frank's right-hand-man, Steve Buscemi in a very brief role as one of Frank's men, and David Caruso and Wesley Snipes as cops bent on taking down Frank.
The movie (which was booed during it's debut at the New York Film Festival and elicited several walkouts, including Ferrara's own wife) deals with a theme Ferrara would explore further in his follow up Bad Lieutenant: a bad man seeking redemption in a hostile world. Frank is a cold blooded killer, but if he can get this hospital built, he feels he can be redeemed.
King of New York is probably Ferrara's most stylish film, and it has some great action scenes and an excellent cast. Absolutely worth checking out.
This review of King of New York (1990) was written by John M on 05 Apr 2012.
King of New York has generally received positive reviews.
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