King Of New York [DVD]

A drug baron helping a hospital - there's ironic, but this was neither serious nor amusing, so it kinda fell flat.Walken was brillianct as was to be expected, Snipes, a little OTT, but the rest was comic-book stuff. Note Steve Buscemi in a tiny role.."Didn't he do well" in later years! The "Bad Cop" wanted a good slap.I really wanted to enjoy this, but sadly, not one to watch again. It could have so nearly been right up there..If you want comic-book baddies, watch "The Crow", if you want serious, try "Black Mass" or "A History of Violence".., in fact there is so much out there...Can't win em all..

Classic of 90s cinema. The director abel ferrara (also director of the stunning bad lieutenant) made tough films with more attitude than was popular at the time. I'm glad his films now have the respect they deserve and Christopher walken gives possibly his best performance

Director Abel Ferrara hasn't really changed his style or approach since 'Driller Killer'. No bad thing. I liked the amateurish but inventive horror film nasty. I also really liked 'Bad Lieutentant' which seemed to have something to say and a stark way of saying it. However, Ferrara's 'New Rose Hotel' was pointless and inane and this is no better.Much of the plot for 'King Of New York' makes no real sense and the motivations for the characters are non-existent. There are parts that work but much of the film seems as if it were rushed and no-one had time to flesh out the characters or give the film a proper linear narrative. Even the shoot outs and car chases are quite poorly executed.Just as with 'Driller Killer' and 'Bad Lieutenant' Ferrera tries to get your attention by using shock tactics. In those film it work. With this it doesn't mainly because the shocks are not well executed and also because the film is too much of a mess that no-one really cares what's happening.

Things to love:- Christopher Walken's charismatic presence onscreen is something to behold. He outclasses everyone in every scene, even when the other actors are giving him dry wood. In many ways, this role set the template for Walken's post 90's career.- The lighting is excellent, the cinematography is perfect. Every scene looks gritty, moody, and natural. There's nothing too stylised or too perfect. The world feels and looks darkly sinister, full of sexual vice and excess, threat and danger, without seeming concocted. Amazing.- The score undergirds the scenes perfectly.- It captures New York's seedy underbelly and sprawling jungle-like skyline in a very beautiful way.Things to not love so much:- The terrible dialogue/script. There are too many moments where you're watching people 'act' instead of reacting and behaving as a fully-fledged person. Most characters shout and holler dialogue with a bombastic attitude but you never know who they are or which place it's coming from. Much of the script feels very much like a white guy's idea of what 'black' is. There's an over-reliance on stereotypes here and no character ever gets the right depth afforded to them. Just lots of shouting and attitude.- The narrative/story feels lazy and rushed.- Needless nudity. I wonder what use seeing him grope a woman's breast on screen really serves. I guess it adds sexual flavour and an animalistic quality to the main character. Who knows? But, you never really know the character so what does it serve other than to serve horny audience members?ConclusionIt looks, sounds and feels amazing. Almost superficially so. But, New York itself is revealed and is captured in stunning glimpses. Much of the tension is forced, and much of the dialogue misses. But, Walken puts on a tour de force of understated charisma. Quiet contemplation here, subtle inflections of inner turmoil there, a shark smile here, a stone-cold blank executioner there. He pulls you into every scene with his own sense of possibilities. He's elusive and yet compelling at the same time. Enigmatic and confident, he seems almost vampiric in a Bowie-esque way. Walken strides into every scene as if he owns it without even trying.

The release of gang leader Frank from jail upsets the equilibrium of New York's underworld, unleashing a torrent of violence as he seeks to become the King of New York.This is an impressively shot urban Western/ Neo-Noir, with great set-pieces and a strong central performance from Christopher Walken. Ferrara's trademark use of incidental diegetic sound, gritty sets and locations and a script that places the characters within contemporary New York brings a degree of realism to proceedings, contrasting somewhat with the OTT violence and elaborate car chases.

Typical show stealing performance by Christopher Walken on of the greatest actors of his generation right up there with the best. His sheer screen presence in every movie I have seen him in is breath taking. We had The Oscars last week what an underwhelming ensemble of talentless nobodies compared to this man !

Just receive this in the mail, it came with damaged outer box. Doesn't even close on one side, and has a huge hole at the top. I'm gonna watch the movie this afternoon, and if I can find a new box and the 4K disc is fine I might keep it, otherwise, I'm gonna have to ask for a replacement

Better than New Jack City. This is one of the best gangster/ drug dealer / cop movies that I have ever seen. Unlike the Hollywood feel that New Jack City had, this movie has a darker and grittier tone to it. The acting is by the cast is great and the story is great. If you are a fan of this genre, then this movie is a must have. 10/10