Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Myron Clemons A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

danstevon Am I missing something? Released only a year before Goodfellas (if we are comparing 'gangster' movies) I don't see how this is such a classic... yeah Christopher Walken steals nearly every scene he's in but that's a given, he's Christopher Walken for God's sake! I didn't understand how he was meant to be this big villain capable of wiping out anyone who crossed him when his "crew" were nothing more than a bunch of low level punks who robbed people on the subway etc. Some good scenes but nowhere near Walken's best effort and nowhere near one of the greatest gangster films.

NateWatchesCoolMovies Abel Ferrara's King Of New York shows a man drawn in by the seedy corridors of grime and filth, entranced by the opportunistic lives of people on the edge of reason and caged in a nasty fight for survival in a city that doesn't forgive or hand out second chances without a heavy cost. I'm talking about both the director, and the knockout lead character he guides through a morose, introspective journey of self destruction. Ferrara has always had a fascination with bottom feeding despair, inlaid with a silver lining of gutter accomplishments and wanton, frenzied attempts by his characters to carve a path for themselves, often when it's already too late for them. Christopher Walken plays Frank White, a once legendary, recently paroled criminal kingpin looking to set up shop again in the mean streets, acting as an urban Robin Hood, redistributing wealth as he sees fit and ruthlessly slaughtering his competition with the flair that only Walken can infuse into a performance. He gives a stinger of a performance, a career highlight of quiet, evil resolve, devilish glee and pondering moodiness, never the protagonist, never the antagonist, always a determined, violent man at odds with his surroundings and incapable of anything but crime. Whether ruthlessly intimidating a rival wise guy, whipping out a gun at two black punks on the subway or generally just generating an undercurrent of unease, Walken is a spectral force to be reckoned with and makes the film his own. Pretty soon some straight arrow cops zero in on him and his organization, including a dogged Victor Argo and a gung ho, reckless David Caruso. Frank throws everything he has at them, marshaled by his second in command Jimmy Jump (a fantastically sleazy Laurence Fishburne, early on in his career before he got all high and mighty). An immanent showdown looms, as it must in any decent crime thriller, but Ferrera ducks expectations with a finale that brings the energy inward for something less explosive and more contemplative, making the dark, sad poetry of it impact the viewer all the more. Rumour has it much of this film was improvised, and one can sense the organic flow of energy in the scenes, the pulse of events and character interactions taking on a startling realism that never feels forced or sensationalistic. Paul Hipp, Wesley Snipes, Janet Julian, Giancarlo Esposito, Paul Calderon, Theresa Randle, Frank Adonis, Vanessa Angel, Roger Smith and Steve Buscemi provide colourful . One of the essential crime films, a milestone Walken performance, and a surprisingly melancholy vibe that shouldn't be missed.

jcbutthead86 King Of New York is one of the best Gangster Films and Crime Dramas ever made that's filled with stylish direction,Great performances from Christopher Walken and the whole cast,well-written screenplay and great Action. This film is an Underrated Classic and has a Cult following that is well-deserved.King Of New York tells the story of a gangster and drug lord named Frank White(Christopher Walken)who has just been released from prison and reunites with his former crew to wipe out his rivals and take back control of the drug game. While Frank is doing that,a group of New York cops want to take down Frank by any means necessary and try to stop Frank's rein as the King Of New York.King Of New York while a Great film and Cult Classic now,suffered from bad timing and unfortunately came out right around the same time as another Great New York set Gangster film Martin Scorsese's classic GoodFellas so KONY was basically ignored and overlooked by audiences as a result,but thankfully KONY was rediscovered through home video and was immortalized by the late great Hip-Hop icon The Notorious B.I.G who called himself The Black Frank White. One of the reasons I love KONY is the way it shows New York City a few years before the Big Apple was "cleaned-up" by Mayor Rudy Guiliani,the film shows New York as this dark and gritty place where drugs and crime have affected New York City,giving the film a sense of danger and gloomy atmosphere and a world where gangsters rule the streets.The screenplay by Nicholas St. John is well-written and memorable,giving the character great,realistic dialog,speaking in the tone and toughness of the streets. I also love the moral ambiguity of Frank White and the rest of the characters. Frank White is one of the best characters I've ever seen in a gangster film and in my opinion should be alongside Michael Coleone and Tony Montana as a gangster icon. Frank White is a character where one of the rare times in a gangster film you can relate to the main character because even though Frank is out of prison and back with his old crew,you feel that Frank is isolated and alone and lost too much time when he was in prison. And with Frank you may not always like his actions or the things he always or sometimes does but you like the character because one minute he's dealing with his rivals and drugs,while at the same time wanting to keep a hospital open. There's good and bad in Frank White and that is one of the things that makes Frank White a great character and so iconic. There's also a moral ambiguity with the other characters as well such as Frank's crew and the cops. Where in most Crime Dramas it's easy to figure out who's the good guys and the bad guys,it's not that easy with this film because you don't know who to root for and you don't who to root against. It would be easy to label Frank's crew the "Bad Guys" because they're dealing drugs and killing people and label cops as the "Good Guys" because the cops represent the law,but there is big a gray area that is in the film because you will love Frank's crew because of the things they do or hate the cops because of what they do or vice versa. That's one of the things I love about KONY is that nothing is what it seems and there is no easy answer. The Action and violence in the film is dark,gritty and violent and not for the faint of heart and it truly fits and matches the dark tone of the film showing viewers how the gangster lifestyle and drug dealing can be violent and horrible and the film doesn't glamorize the violence. The ending of this film is excellent and unlike most gangster film,this movie doesn't end with a bang,but in a sad,quiet way and one of the reasons KONY is a classic.The whole cast in the film is excellent. Christopher Walken gives one of his best and most iconic performances as Frank White,with Walken bringing an intensity,cool and calm demeanor to the role. Excellent performance by Walken. Laurence Fishburne gives a great,stand-out performance as Jimmy Jump,Frank's gun blazing right hand man. Fishburne is funny in the film and has great lines. David Caruso and Wesley Snipes are wonderful as Dennis and Tommy,two cops who want to nail Frank. Victor Argo is great as Roy,Dennis and Tommy's partner. Paul Calderon(Joey Dalesio),Janet Julian(Jennifer),Giancarlo Esposito(Lance),Steve Buscemi(Test Tube),Theresa Randle(Raye),Carrie Nygren(Melanie),Leonard L. Thomas(Blood),Roger Guenveur Smith(Tanner),Joey Chin(Larry Wong)and Frank Gio(Arty Clay) give good performances as well.The direction by Abel Ferrara is excellent,stylish and visually stunning,giving the film a great dark and gritty tone,while using different colors and always moving the camera. Great direction from Ferrara.The score by Joe Delia is wonderful,sad,energetic and melodic and adds to film's dark tone. Great score. The film also has great Hip-Hop tracks by Schooly-D like Am I Black Enough For You and Saturday Night. Great tracks.In final word,if you love Abel Ferrara,Christopher Walken,Gangster Films,Crime Dramas or films in general I suggest you see King Of New York,a true Gangster classic that will stay with you after watching it and a film that will stand the test of time. Highly Recommended. 10/10.

Tom Gooderson-A'Court A New York drug lord Frank White (Christopher Walken) is being driven in his limousine back into the city following his release from prison. His crew are busy taking out a rival Columbian gang who have been encroaching on White's business while he's been away. Once he's back White wastes no time in taking out more of New York's crime lords and cements himself as the King of New York. Disgruntled that they are never able to get charges to stick, a few wild Police Officers decide that the only way to stop White and his gang is to take them out.Featuring an impressive cast which alongside Walken includes gangsters Laurence Fishburne, Steve Buscemi, Giancarlo Esposito and Theresa Randle with Cops Wesley Snipes, Victor Argo and David Caruso the film is a tale of good vs evil, but as you'd expect the lines between the two are blurred. Although not in the same league as the likes of Scarface, Carlito's Way or Serpico all of which share themes with this, it is a decent gangster picture.The story is fairly basic really. Gang boss gets released from prison; starts to rebuild his empire and the cops try to stop him. There is little new plot wise. The only little twist on the genre is the cop's tactic of halting the gangster's operation. I wasn't really invested in the story or many of the characters though there were some good performances. Much like the plot they were all characters you've seen before to some degree or another. There's the level headed, ice cold killer of a boss, the ostentatious black gangsters, the Irish cops, the Latino middle man, the Mafioso, the Chinese Triads and various scantily clad women. Unfortunately it's all been seen and done before.As I say though there are some terrific performances. Christopher Walken delivers a powerful and menacing performance as Frank White. He's calm and calculating but isn't afraid to deliver the killer blow. The character also has a side to him which makes the audience empathize with him and the way in which Walken creates this is brilliant. Another great performance is Laurence Fishburne as an arrogant and flashy gangster/killer. He is especially good in the chicken shop scene. Victor Argo is also great.The highlight of the film for me was the incredible soundtrack. I have somewhat of a puncheon for late 80s Hip-Hop and this film features some of the best that era had to offer with the likes of Party Posse and Schooly D lending songs. The traditional score which is interspersed with the Hip-Hop works well and sounds good. As well as the soundtrack there was also some pretty jazzy dancing, most notably from Walken. It reminded me of the video for Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice, a video I could watch over and over again.In addition as the slightly tired plot another problem with the film is the hair. I've never seen such bad hair in a film before. Half the cast sport mullets and Christopher Walken's is characteristically crazy. I did enjoy the two big shoot-outs. They were both action packed and the first must have had some influence on Grand Theft Auto as it looked just like the sort of shoot-out that game would present. In the end King of New York is an average gangster film but nothing more.www.attheback.blogspot.com