King of New York

Directed by Abel Ferrara, King of New York follows drug kingpin Frank White (Christopher Walken) as he attempts to rebuild his criminal empire after a decades-long stint in prison. Filmmaker Ferrara, armed with a script by Nicholas St. John, delivers a progressively engrossing piece of work that benefits from its remarkably captivating central performance, as Walken steps into the shoes of his nefarious (yet oddly sympathetic) character to a degree that remains mesmerizing from start to finish – with the actor’s first-class efforts certainly matched by an impressively stacked supporting cast that includes David Caruso, Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes, and Victor Argo. And while the 103 minute running time admittedly does possess a small handful of lulls, particularly within a midsection prone to wheel-spinning, King of New York boasts several compelling stretches, including one or two unexpectedly enthralling action sequences, that pave the way for an almost astonishingly spellbinding third act – which does, in the end, confirm the picture’s place as a top-notch crime drama that fares a whole lot better than one might’ve anticipated.

***1/2 out of ****