King of New York
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Abel Ferrara (director), Nicholas St. John (screenwriter) |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States, Italy |
| Products | Neo-noir crime film |
King of New York is a 1990 neo-noir crime film helmed by director Abel Ferrara and penned by screenwriter Nicholas St. John. The film features Christopher Walken portraying Frank White, a New York City drug lord striving to reestablish his criminal dominance after incarceration while attempting to legitimize his operations. The ensemble cast also includes Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo, and Wesley Snipes, with notable supporting performances from Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Buscemi, Paul Calderón, Janet Julian, and Theresa Randle.
As an American-Italian joint venture, the movie was distributed by Carolco Pictures through New Line Cinema on September 28, 1990. With a production budget of $5 million, it earned roughly $2.6 million at the box office. Early critical reception was divided, frequently highlighting the film’s violence and grim atmosphere; however, later evaluations have been more positive, recognizing it as one of Ferrara’s most accomplished films.
Plot
Frank White, a prominent drug kingpin, seeks to control New York City's underworld. Upon his release from Sing Sing prison, White and his crew, led by his unpredictable lieutenant Jimmy Jump, strengthen their hold by eliminating competitors within the Colombian drug cartel and the Triad. White personally assassinates a Mafia leader who refuses to cooperate.
These actions attract the scrutiny of the NYPD narcotics division. Detectives Bishop, Gilley, and Flanigan confront White but lack sufficient evidence to detain him. Instead, they focus on arresting White’s associates after securing cooperation from a member of the Colombian cartel.
White’s legal team manages to secure their release. Frustrated by the limitations of the law, Gilley and Flanigan decide to eliminate White and his gang by force. They assault a nightclub where White is celebrating, killing many of his men. White and Jump survive but are pursued; Jump ambushes Flanigan, injuring him fatally before Gilley kills Jump in retaliation.
At Flanigan’s funeral, White assassinates Gilley in a drive-by shooting. Subsequently, White confronts Bishop at his residence, holding him at gunpoint while explaining that he eradicated the Colombian cartel and Triad in New York due to their involvement in human trafficking and child exploitation. He restrains Bishop but spares his life.
Bishop escapes and pursues White into the subway system. Both draw weapons; White uses a civilian as a human shield during the shootout. Bishop is killed in the crossfire. Wounded, White emerges in Times Square where police surround his taxi. As officers close in, he collapses.
Development
Abel Ferrara and Nicholas St. John had envisioned creating King of New York since the early 1980s, with initial test footage and casting commencing in 1981. However, the project was postponed and the screenplay underwent extensive revisions over nearly a decade.
Because of its provocative themes, Ferrara faced difficulties securing support from American studios. Ultimately, funding came exclusively from Italian firms Reteitalia and Scena International. Producer Augusto Caminito described the film as a cultural link between Italian and American cinema, comparing its narrative to a contemporary version of Robin Hood.
Filming
Principal photography took place from April 19 to June 14, 1989, exclusively within and around New York City. Ferrara obtained authorization from the then-owner Donald Trump to shoot scenes at the Plaza Hotel without charge, provided that Walken agreed to have his photo taken with Ivana Trump, who admired the actor.
Filming locations encompassed Sing Sing, the Plaza Hotel, Times Square, Williamsburg, Queensboro Bridge, Fifth Avenue, Ossining, and Saranac Lake. The primary studio used was Silvercup Studios.
Initially, the film was assigned an X rating by the MPAA, which was later downgraded to an R after an appeal.
Home media
King of New York became available on a 2-Disc Special Edition DVD on April 20, 2004, followed by a Blu-ray release on October 23, 2007.
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a 74% approval rating based on 31 critic reviews, with an average score of 6.4/10. The consensus highlights its striking visual style and compelling performances. On Metacritic, it has a score of 66 out of 100 from 20 critics, signifying "generally favorable" feedback.
Total Film awarded it four stars out of five. Roger Ebert gave it two stars out of four, commending Walken’s acting and Ferrara’s atmospheric direction but criticizing the screenplay and narrative structure. In contrast, Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune rated it half a star, suggesting that both Walken and the film felt "just out of grasp." Additionally, the film is listed in Steven Jay Schneider's 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
Bojan Bazelli earned a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Cinematography.
In popular culture
Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. took on the nicknames "Frank White" and "The King Of New York," drawing inspiration from this film’s protagonist.
After Biggie’s passing, several New York rappers such as Nas, Jay-Z, and 50 Cent have adopted the "King Of New York" title.