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Reteitalia
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Not everyone who runs a city is elected.
A former drug lord returns from prison determined to wipe out all his competition and distribute the profits of his operations to New York's poor and lower classes in this stylish and ultra violent modern twist on Robin Hood.
r96sk
Mar 10, 2022 · via TMDB
Shoulda loved it, didn't. The violent nature of <em>'King of New York'</em> is its strongest element, though otherwise I found this to be unsatisfying. A lot happens but none of it really clicked for me, while I held very little interest in any of the characters - despite an exceptional cast list. Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes, Steve Buscemi and Giancarlo Esposito are all in there, yet none of their performances shone through to me to be honest. Walken is the obvious standout, though that's only via a process of elimination. Gritty gangster flicks would usually be my thing, but for some reason this 1990 release disappointed me.
tmdb15435519
Apr 24, 2021 · via TMDB
Incredibly acted and beautifully stylized. Really enjoyed this entry in the 90s crime era, one of the best in my opinion.
John Chard
Jul 7, 2019 · via TMDB
Stylish and smouldering. Frank White, a drug lord of New York, is released from prison and plans to make a more positive mark on the city. But after reuniting with his loyal and violence hungry gang, he finds the odds are very much stacked up against him. Not only has New York changed for the worse, being run by incompetent pretenders to his crown, but the police force are also after his head - dead or alive! First time viewers to this picture should not go into it expecting some Scarface type gangster movie, I made that mistake almost 17 years ago and came out the cinema totally cheesed off! Revisiting the film now has opened up a whole new ream of delights that when put together have created a simmering and brutal piece of work. What director Abel Ferrara has managed to do here is portray a fable of how a leopard never changes its spots - even though it wants too. Frank White is here a victim of his own past doings, with his reputation on the wane and the authorities with long and unforgiving memories. What hits the most (outside of some brilliant acting) is Abel Ferrara's bleak yet gorgeous vision of a sin city Big Apple, the characters are all one step away from a death, something that we the audience hope comes swift and nasty, all of which is cloaked in this plink plink lighted vision of the underworld. Ferrara chooses to pace his picture to give us a sense of pervading doom, it's quite a knack and means the viewers have to hang on in there to get to the wonderful, and dare I say it, bleakly appropriate conclusion. Christopher Walken is Frank White and gives one of his best career performances, all scary eyes and dialogue spurting precision, he pours out grit and emotion to garner sympathy where he perhaps really shouldn't be getting it. Larry Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo, Wesley Snipes, Janet Julian and Steve Buscemi fill out the cast list, with Fishburne and his manic Jimmy Jump character practically walking off with the movie. So all in all it's a visual delight and a story that is very good on the ears, with the violence perfectly harsh to flesh out the grim nature of this pot boiling crime picture. So, those in need of a pick me up should probably steer well clear then. 8/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Christopher Walken
Frank White
David Caruso
Dennis Gilley
Laurence Fishburne
Jimmy Jump
Victor Argo
Roy Bishop
Wesley Snipes
Thomas Flanigan
Janet Julian
Jennifer
Joey Chin
Larry Wong
Giancarlo Esposito
Lance
Paul Calderon
Joey Dalesio
Steve Buscemi
Test Tube
Theresa Randle
Raye
Leonard L. Thomas
Blood
Roger Guenveur Smith
Tanner
Carrie Nygren
Melanie
Ernest Abuba
King Tito
Frank Adonis
Paul Calgari
Vanessa Angel
British Female
Frank Aquilino
Card Player
David Batiste
Walter - Chicken Hut
Frankie Cee
Johnny Chick
Erica Gimpel
Dr. Shute
Frank Gio
Arty Clay
Lance Guecia
Musta
Jay Julien
Abraham Cott
Robert LaSardo
Italian Guard
Phoebe Legere
Bordello Woman
James Lorinz
Tip Connoly
Gary Landon Mills
Chilly
Harold Perrineau
Thug Leader
Alonna Shaw
Kathleen Mulligan
Freddie Jackson
Freddie Jackson
Ariane
Ariane
Pete Hamill
Pete Hamill
Sari Chang
Reporter
Carlos Lauchu
Undercover Cop (uncredited)
Bojan Bazelli
Director of Photography
Peter Bucossi
Stunts
Abel Ferrara
Director
Phil Neilson
Second Unit Director
Jay Julien
Executive Producer
Joe Delia
Original Music Composer
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The Humming Grows
No Way Beyond The Shadow
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Memento
The Departed
Scarface
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The Way of the Gun
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Unlawful Entry
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Red Nights
Mother's Deadly Son
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Irish Eyes
Aksar
Lips of Lurid Blue
Underbelly Blues
Desert Son
New York Chinatown
4 O'Clock
The Lifeboat
Stingy Jack
Motel Providence
Die Moorde Van Boven
These Four Days I've Lived With You
Elders Club
The Full House
Pausa
Coming Clean
Food Chain Complexity in Afforested Grounds
Girl Forgotten: What Happened To Brianna Wells? Part 1-3
Haus der Vergeltung
7 Büyük Günah
Pulp Fiction
Once Upon a Time in America
Bound by Honor
Scarface
Carlito's Way
American Gangster
True Romance
Donnie Brasco
Menace II Society
The French Connection
Wasteman
The Boondock Saints
Good Time
Sexy Beast
Bad Lieutenant
Shot Caller
Thursday
Avengement
Year of the Dragon
Paid in Full
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Light Sleeper
The Infiltrator
Dragged Across Concrete
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Coffy
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Tango & Cash
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Smokin' Aces
Gangster No. 1
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Rise of the Footsoldier
Super Fly
The Dead Pool
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Dead Man Down
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Clean
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Sep 22, 1990
New York Film Festival
Sep 28, 1990
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Feather Your Nest
1937
Our Living Declaration of Independence
1950
Sign in to vote
Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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