King of New York (Limited Edition Steelbook Case)

The drawn-out shot of a prison gate closing ominously heralds the re-emergence of drug Czar Frank White (Christopher Walken) into the dark night of the New York Underw... more >

The drawn-out shot of a prison gate closing ominously heralds the re-emergence of drug Czar Frank White (Christopher Walken) into the dark night of the New York Underworld. Pale, hollow-eyed and seemingly always shrouded in shadow and darkness, White is in fact no Nosferatau, or at least no longer. Instead Walken and Ferrara create an intriguingly complex character, both at odds with and at the same time embracing the traditions of the gangster genre and its usual parallels with American capitalism. White is a rarity: a socialist wiseguy.


As his multi-ethnic gang, comprising black streethoods and WASP attornies set about wiping out the various insular Mafia, Chinese and Latino Godfathers and taking control of the Big Apple's narcotic trade, Frank is busy implementing his own unique political ideology. Basically, if people are always going to take drugs no matter what the authorities do, why not use the billions of dollars it generates to build hospitals for the poor?


By combining this overtly radical concept with a darkly thrilling combination of gangland shoot-outs, cocaine-fuelled parties and seedy sexual imagery (make no mistake, White loves being a gangster) Ferrara’s Nietchian-Noir manages with high-octane aplomb to fill Truffaut’s definition of a great film ­ it says something about life and something about film.



< less

View all 2 of David Dignan’s reviews

Ratings for this DVD

Average Rating
Log in to place your vote!

DVD Extras

• 2 discs
• Disc One: Audio commentary by director Abel Ferrara
• audio commentary by composer Joe Delia, producer Mary Kane, editor Anthony Redman and casting director Randy Sabusawa
• Dolby Digital 5.0 Surround Sound and Dolby Digital Stereo audio options
• Disc Two: Interview with producer Augusto Caminito
• documentary on Abel Ferrara's career and the making of King of New York
• "The Adventures of Schooly D: Snowboarder" documentary
• "Cinema, de notre temps" documentary, "Abel Ferrara Not Guilty"
• "Hollywood Superstars: Christopher Walken".

Film Details

Cast

Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Wesley Snipes

Technical Details