Walken walks, Caruso squawks and Snipes says nothing at all. (King Of New York (DVD))

Member Name: Yermansays

Product:	King Of New York (DVD)
Date:	14/07/01 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Walken's performance

Disadvantages: Caruso and Snipes

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 cast are Larry Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo and Steve Buscemi. A fantastic cast but most of them are woefully wasted (more on this later).
Frank is now sitting comfortably in the Limo with two women; the scene cuts to a Hotel in the city. Jump (Fishburne) and Test Tube (Buscemi) are negotiating a drugs deal with King Tito. They test the gear and hand over a briefcase to Tito; he opens the case and finds it’s full of Tampax. No sooner has he registered his surprise when he and his henchmen are gunned down by Jump.

Frank has now left the Limo and is showered and relaxed in another Hotel. One of the women tells him he has visitors. Jump, Test Tube and a number of others enter the room. There is a brief exchange of words. We don’t know what’s going to happen, suddenly Frank does a little dance (shades of the routine he performed in Fat Boy Slim’s video, Weapons Of Choice) and they all greet each other like long lost friends. Welcome to The King Of New York.

The movie is mainly shot at night and Walken moves through the night like a vengeful Angel. He is intent of taking control of the city. Why? He wishes to raise enough cash from his deals to regenerate a hospital in the Ghetto, which is sorely in need of Finance. He regards his fellow
drug dealers as beneath contempt. His is the good fight and he is the King. There are a number of very good scenes and Walken is involved in most of them.

Fishburne is his right hand man and puts in a very good performance, if it were not for him and Walken this would have been a very run of the mill movie. Buscemi has very little to do and is wasted (not wasted as in blown away but just wasted). As is Wesley Snipes who plays a cop (Thomas Finegan). He contributes very little as does David Caruso who plays his partner (Dennis Gilley). Both have Irish connections, hence the surnames. The cops are very much presented as the villains of the piece and do not generate an ounce of sympathy. Caruso is forever sounding off and shouting louder than everyone else whereas Snipes is practically a Mute. Ten years on and Snipes is a megastar and Caruso is nowhere to be seen. You could argue Caruso was a non–entity when this was made. Victor Argo plays Roy Bishop, a seasoned cop and he at least puts in a good performance.

Walken is a rare commodity but is not to everyone’s taste. One thing he does possess is screen presence. His choice of movies over the last twenty five years have included a few Turkeys but his better performances have been in The Deerhunter, Dogs Of War, At Close Range, Prophecy, Dead Zone, Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead, Heavens Gate (One of my favourite films of all time). Pennies From Heaven (Some more dancing), Biloxi Blues, True Romance and Sleepy Hollow.
I am also looking forward to watching Wild Side (Director’s Cut), which was made in 1995. This somehow this passed me by first time round. King Of New York would definitely make my top 100 films of all time and is definitely worth buying or renting.

There are no extras worth mentioning on the DVD and considering the price I paid for it (£7.50), I wasn’t too bothered as HMV were doing a deal ie buy two DVD’s from their Silver Coll
ection for £15.00. My second choice was Capricorn One. Among the other movies included in this offer were The Eagle Has Landed, The Boys From Brazil, Tomorrow Never Comes, The Cassandra Crossing, Saturn Three, All Quiet On The Western Front and The Ipcress File.

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