King Of New York (DVD)

King Of New York was directed by Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant, The Funeral, Body Snatchers) in 1990. It is by no means a masterpiece but it is a very solid movie held together by Christopher Walken’s performance as Frank White, New York drug baron. Frank is released from prison and outside a Limo awaits him. At the same time a drugs dealer (presumably) surrounded by a bevy of beauties leaves his Apartment and is in the process of making a call from a telephone kiosk when he is gunned down and a newspaper is thrust into his face bearing the headlines “Frank White is released from prison” The opening credits come into view, among the supporting ...

This easily rates in my top ten movies of all time. As a film it's one of those moments of syncronicity where we capture the lead actor and the director at the height of their abilities, and have a support cast who simply would be unaffordable now because they were all unknowns when they shot this, and now they're stars. Abel Ferraras direction is taught and snappy with much dark lighting lending support to the feel of grubbiness and sleaze that pervades the movie. The basic story is thus. Mobster Frank White (Christopher Walken at his psychotic best) is released from prison and immediately sets about recovering his drugs empire from ...

This is a superb gangster film, with Christopher Walken outstanding in that understated, yet manic way that characterises so many of the roles he plays. So much of his menace is carried in a furtive glance from his beady eyes, or a fleeting half-smile, that he does not need to say much to loom dark and threatening on the screen. Walken plays Frank White, a New York gang lord just released from the penitentiary and intent on recovering the turf that has been taken from him by other Italian, Hispanic and Chinese warlords during his incarceration. Surrounded by his henchmen (roles played by, among others, then then virtually unknown Laurence Fisburne and ...