King of New York (1990)

Frank White (Christopher Walken) is a drug kingpin who just got out of prison and is eager to restart his criminal enterprise with his long-term lietenant Jimmy Jump (Laurence Fishburne) helping to lead the way.  And off the bat, he goes hard after every rival gang and starts to see success.....only there's crew of NYPD cops who are after him lead by Roy Bishop (Victor Argo) and they're getting close.  And what results is a hyper-violent crime drama featuring an all-star cast including David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, and Steve Buscemi.  Directed by New York legend and long-timer indie auteur Abel Ferrara (Bad Lieutenant, Ms. 45), this came out in the Fall of 1990 amidst a glut of more celebrated gangster movies (Goodfellas, Miller's Crossing, New Jack City) so it got lost in the shuffle but it has since gone on to develop a devoted cult following.  So let's head back to the mean streets of late '80's New York and find out....who becomes The King! 

Host: Geoff Gershon
Edited By Ella Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

KING OF NEW YORK - 1990

Directed by Abel Ferrara

Starring Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo, Wesley Snipes, Janet Julian, Joey Chin, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Calderon, Theresa Randle, Leonard L. Thomas, Roger Guenveur Smith, Carrie Nygren, Ernest Abuba, Frank Adonis, Harold Perrineau, Freddy Jackson, and Steve Buscemi

Genre:  Crime Drama (Audio clip)

First off, I would personally like to thank The Rewatchables crew - with a BIG assist from Quentin Tarantino - for helping me to rediscover this gem from the crime drama heyday of 1990. :) I missed it in theaters at the time but since that episode of the podcast, it has now become a perennial rewatch for me….as has apparently most even just semi-decent Wesley Snipes vehicles from this particular era….he’s really just the co-star here to be fair.  It had the misfortune of coming out within a few months of Goodfellas, Miller's Crossing, State of Grace, New Jack City, AND Godfather Part III so it's easy to see why it got lost in the shuffle. But moreso than most of those other crime opuses, director Abel Ferrara brought his own unique level of early '90's sleaziness to how THIS particular story was told. Even coked out Henry Hill might have found himself overwhelmed within THIS particular world of non-stop violence and double-crosses....

Actually out of all of the numerous memorable gangster pictures from this particular era, I always felt like this would make a FANTASTIC Coast/West Coast double feature with Bill Duke's Deep Cover which would come out about 18 months later. Both movies share a similar neon-soaked grittiness along extremely cynical views of law enforcement AND Fishburne of course....playing completely different roles but still at his peak! (Along with memorable brief appearances from then-Spike Lee stalwart Roger Guenveur Smith) They also both share the same DP….Bojan Bazelli who just seems to have a knack for shooting neon at night in a manner which makes it feel more organic to the environment.  But even Deep Cover (which co-starred a whacked out Goldblum who would have fit in perfectly into Ferrara's world here) couldn't match the heights of nuttiness which this tale reaches.

It's just bat-shit in the best way....almost every one kills it in this movie especially Fishburne (playing Jimmy Jump, Walken's Frank's hyper-active top lieutenant) chewing EVERY morsel he can when pre-NYPD Blue David Caruso (playing Dennis Gilley, an exuberant NYPD cop on his trail) isn't giving him a run for his money! :) The overall cast is just super-stacked with several notable pros before they would eventually take off including Wesley, Buscemi, Giancarlo, Theresa Rhandle, Harold Perrineau, and Paul Calderon ALL given at least one notable scene! 

even NYC stage and screen legend (this guy worked with just about everybody around this time from Scorsese to Woody to Jarmusch besides appearing on every crime show from Law & Order to Miami Vice) Victor Argo who has the seemingly thankless role of being one of the few level-headed characters in this deal who's always trying to act rationally against bold criminals and hot-headed cops. He plays NYPD Detective Bishop and brings a necessary calm gravitas to most of his scenes. 

And as for the main lead who almost gets overshadowed from all of the craziness surrounding him....there's Walken. 🤗 Walken does a lot of his Walken-isms (just watch him dance) but he still brings a good amount of depth, menace, and flair to aspiring kingpin Frank White...definitely one of his better performances all adding up a very watchable crime drama which never wears out its welcome and ends on the perfect note.

Best Needledrop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film): 

The soundtrack is kind of a nutty mix of hip-hop and repurposed classical music but it all kind of works.  But for me, the TRUE musical highlight occurs about half-way through at the 55 minute mark.  It’s a gala attended by Frank alongside several more respectable local dignitaries to celebrate the re-opening of a local community hospital – which Frank himself helped bankroll – and we're treated a highly memorable and funky on-screen stage performance from '80's R&B sensation Freddie Jackson no less. 😉 Jackson himself of course was also from New York and here we get to see him perform a song which apparently….wasn’t a full actual song.  Yeah believe me I looked, can’t find a full version….just the portion he does on-stage here and it’s DAMN catchy.  It’s not only a kick to watch him OWN the screen for a few minutes but also just watch how the folks in the crowd get into it…..the song is the irresistible “Dream On.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film): 

The only real weak link in the cast is Janet Julian who kind of snoozes her way through her performance as Jennifer, who is our main protagonist's lawyer/lover - this could have been a potentially exciting role with a stronger actress and she just sticks out like a sore thumb among this group, never apparently changing the bored expression on her face. 🙄 It's unfortunate just that the rest of the cast comes off as SO dynamic....

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

I feel like this is a no-brainer as an unofficial sting operation by the police to infiltrate Frank’s operations goes terribly wrong in the third act leading to an extended shoot-out/car chase towards the end which is simply balls-out exciting!  In fact….this own epic balls-out face-off between White’s crew and the cops is not only the film’s climax but pretty much unfolds in three acts: 

1)     The introductory shoot-out in the bar, where we get to see Fishburne’s Jimmy just going BUCK-WILD with an uzi in each hand….and MOSTLY set to the insanely catchy “Am I Black Enough For You” from Schoolly D (Audio clip) 

2)    The car chase which kicks off with the NASTY death of one undercover cop who collides with….a fire hydrant….and culminates in the pouring rain on a mini-bridge in the city…

3)    There’s basically a three-way cat-and-mouse in an empty lot in the dark between Jimmy, Caruso’s Dennis….and Tommy Flanagan played by Wesley Snipes.  It starts off ONE way and then shifts in an unexpected direction.  THIS is probably the ultimate trailer moment as it’s a TRUE acting showcase: both Caruso and Fishburne are REALLY going for it! (Audio clip) 

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

Born in the Bronx, Abel Ferrara has been one of our TRUE independent filmmakers who has been doing this for almost 50 years….since 1979’s The Driller Killer.  He has always specialized in his own particular brand of often violent, grimy drama….you could even refer to several of them as “exploitation films.”  He never really had a box office hit nor won any awards but he has just endured nonetheless as kind of a cult sensation with this, Bad Lieutenant, and Ms. 45 his most well-liked films.  Now to be honest, I have only seen one other Ferrara film and I only vaguely remember it…..1993’s Body Snatchers which was yes a remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Not bad either, probably his biggest budget and most mainstream film. (Audio clip)  

And he’s still doing it today…..still working steadily and his reputation has pretty much been cemented as even in recent years, he still attracts top talent to star in his films including Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe.  This MIGHT be his most influential film as the character of Frank White apparently inspired much of the music and even the PERSONA of the late, great Biggie Smalls.  And even though you would be hard-pressed to describe much of what’s occurring on-screen as REALISTIC – especially that earlier shootout in the film against Triad – it’s all presented to us very matter-of-factly.  Characters are allowed to just be….and talk….and interact naturally.  If you’re looking for action, the film has some genuinely exciting setpieces….but if you’re also looking to just watch some simple, straightforward conversation among a true rogues gallery of unsavory characters – cops AND criminals – who you’re hopefully NOT likely to encounter in real-life, then he’s your man.  And get this – unlike his more celebrated New York contemporaries like Scorsese or SPIKE, Ferrara’s films RARELY go past 100 minutes.  Yup this one tops out at a lean 103 minutes – for delivering one of the more efficient stand-out crime dramas from this era, Abel Ferrara is the MVP. (Audio clip) 

Final Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 

This one just hits my sweet-spot and it’s highly quotable….if you haven’t already, check it out especially if you’re seeking new material to use for your Christopher Walken impression…..”I feel no REMORSE….it’s a terrible thing.” 

Streaming on tubi, The Roku Channel, kanopy, hoopla, plex, FAWESOME, Fandango At Home, fubo, AND MovieSphere+….so there are just NO excuses

And that ends another SPRAYED, PLAYED, LAID….and SLAYED review!