King of New York (1990)

4 Stars (out of 4)

White City

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Maverick director Abel Ferrara is perhaps best known for his stories of psychotic loners and their journeys of self-discovery (Ms. 45, BadLieutenant, The Addiction, etc.), but he's equally adept at underworld ensemble pieces, especially having to do with the connecting and crumbling of family. The often-overlooked King of New York (1990) is the best of these. Christopher Walken stars in a powerhouse performance as Frank White, a gangster newly released from jail who attempts to make a new life for himself not only by organizing all street crime, but also by donating money to hospitals and becoming a respectable (and electable) citizen. Frank surrounds himself with women bodyguards and Black gangsters, such as a swaggering, volatile thug played by Larry (Laurence) Fishburne. David Caruso leads a team of desperate, frustrated cops who find they can arrest Frank, but can't control his lawyers. Ferrara's dangerous vision of the city at night goes beyond what most creampuff directors are capable of; he gets to the core of everything from the silent, dark windows of towering penthouses to the vicious rattling of crime-ridden subways. A huge band of up-and-comers fleshes out the superb cast, including Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo, Steve Buscemi and Giancarlo Esposito. Ferrara's usual collaborator Nicholas St. John scripted. Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. was a fan, and referenced Frank White in songs and images.