King Of New York (DVD)

This is a superb gangster film, with Christopher Walken outstanding in that understated, yet manic way that characterises so many of the roles he plays. So much of his menace is carried in a furtive glance from his beady eyes, or a fleeting half-smile, that he does not need to say much to loom dark and threatening on the screen.

Walken plays Frank White, a New York gang lord just released from the penitentiary and intent on recovering ...
...Italian, Hispanic and Chinese warlords during his incarceration.

Surrounded by his henchmen (roles played by, among others, then then virtually unknown Laurence Fisburne and Steve Buscemi), the majority of whom are black - a fact that serves to anger his opponents who regard them as beneath contempt - White systematically eliminates competition in 'his' districts, taking control of all organised crime, and drug distribution in particular. ... more

This is a superb gangster film, with Christopher Walken outstanding in that understated, yet manic way that characterises so many of the roles he plays. So much of his menace is carried in a furtive glance from his beady eyes, or a fleeting half-smile, that he does not need to say much to loom dark and threatening on the screen.

Walken plays Frank White, a New York gang lord just released from the penitentiary and intent on recovering the turf that has been taken from him by other Italian, Hispanic and Chinese warlords during his incarceration.

Surrounded by his henchmen (roles played by, among others, then then virtually unknown Laurence Fisburne and Steve Buscemi), the majority of whom are black - a fact that serves to anger his opponents who regard them as beneath contempt - White systematically eliminates competition in 'his' districts, taking control of all organised crime, and drug distribution in particular.

The main obstacles to the rebuilding of White's criminal empire are formed by the trio of policemen on his case, played by John Caruso (in a role very similar to the one he played in NYPD Blue, a tough cop on the verge of becoming a vigilante), a young Wesley Snipes, and the bulldog-like Victor Argo. They are continually frustrated by White's scheming, and his ability to avoid imprisonment - thanks in no small part to his relationship with a high-flying attorney.

Another complication is introduced by White's desire to be seen as something of a phiulanthropist, sponsoring hospitals for the deprived boroughs and ploughing some of his ill-gotten gains back into improving the area. In an argument very similar to that employed by the Kray twins in London, White argues (and indeed believes) that he is the law.

The police force see it differently, however, viewing White's elimination of his self-serving and greedy opponents as gang warfare on a grand scale, and determine to bring him to justice by fair means or foul.
I won't spoil the ending for you, save to say that the film has no grandstand finish, no Scarface-style shootout, but is perhaps all the more powerful for this. 

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