King of New York (1990)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writer (WGA):

Nicholas St. John (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Not everyone who runs a city is elected.

Plot:

A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Prison | Drug Lord | Hospital | Money

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Frank White
David Caruso	...	Dennis Gilley
Laurence Fishburne	...	Jimmy Jump (as Larry Fishburne)
Victor Argo	...	Roy Bishop
Wesley Snipes	...	Thomas Flanigan
Janet Julian	...	Jennifer
Joey Chin	...	Larry Wong
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Lance
Paul Calderon	...	Joey Dalesio
Steve Buscemi	...	Test Tube
Theresa Randle	...	Raye
Leonard L. Thomas	...	Blood (as Leonard Lee Thomas)
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Tanner (as Roger Smith)
Carrie Nygren	...	Melanie
Ernest Abuba	...	King Tito

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Italy | USA | UK

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | Argentina:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R16 (re-rating) (2004) | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 | USA:R (re-rating on appeal) | USA:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Caminito

Trivia:

The production avoided shooting on the streets during the production as much as possible due to the NYC drought. Director Abel Ferrara used sprayers and hoses in order to better portray the city.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bishop is chasing Frank White in the subway, Bishop passes through three cars toward the front of the train, each with the same background extra (a white man in a blue shirt and glasses). Then when Frank White departs the subway after shooting Bishop, it's from the second car from the rear of the train.

Quotes:

Frank White: There are some things I don't do.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Saturday Night

Kingpin

The basic dilemma facing the police in this country is the fact, that the law seems to protect those that are breaking it. Dennis Gilley, one of the New York detectives is a man that thinks this is wrong and then decides to take care of the great problems a newly released Frank White is creating for the city.

Abel Ferrara is a director that doesn't mind taking chances, or tackling thorny issues, as he has proved with his films. Mr. Ferrara seems to bring the best in the actors working for him. Christopher Walken is an example, so it's Harvey Keitel, who has given extraordinary readings about the characters they portray on the screen in movies with Abel Ferrara at the helm.

"King of New York" is a violent film. Mr. Ferrara is making a comment on the element that was causing so much problems in New York prior to the arrival of Rudolph Giuliani, who decided to tackle the criminal activity to the point of eliminating most of the violence in the streets of the city.

The film presents an intense man that is released from prison. Frank White continues his criminal activities where he left them off. Frank and his gang are reunited and we watch as this man pushes his way around some of the people that controlled the drug traffic in the city. These people are ruthless and don't care who they kill in their pursuit of earning illicit money by becoming the most important distributors of drugs.

Christopher Walken is at the center of the film. As Frank White, he gives a tremendous performance and totally dominates the movie. Frank White is indeed one of the most ruthless characters in memory. Laurence Fishburne is also seen at his most menacing as one of Frank's most cruel lieutenants. David Caruso, who doesn't seem to get much work in the movies, makes an interesting police detective, one that believes in taking matters into his own hand, causing an all out war with the criminals he is chasing. Victor Argo, plays the man in charge of the police and made a big contribution to the film. The supporting cast does well following Mr. Ferrara's orders.

"King of New York" is a valid study of what this city looked like not too long ago. Abel Ferrara succeeds in making this an exciting time at the movies, for no one is going to be bored following its action.