“You know how I love money.” —Frank
Today’s quick review: King of New York. Freshly released from prison, crime kingpin Frank White (Christopher Walken) sets about reestablishing himself at the top of New York’s food chain. With the help of his right-hand man Jimmy Jump (Laurence Fishburne), Frank eliminates the competition and corners the city’s drug trade. But he soon runs up against two zealous cops (David Caruso and Wesley Snipes) who will stop at nothing to bring him down.
King of New York is a crime drama about an ambitious criminal’s rise to power. King of New York charts Frank’s return from prison, his battles with his rivals, and his escalating struggle with a pair of cops who are less concerned with the law than with revenge. The movie features a star-studded cast, a promising character in Frank White, and plenty of conflict, but it lacks the character and story depth needed to make the most of its potential.
King of New York depends heavily on the figure of Frank White. Frank is a ruthless criminal who uses daring moves to expand his organization, and Christopher Walken gives the role just the cold charisma that it needs. Yet Frank does not have the depth that he could have. He’s driven by naked ambition; his only sympathetic trait is a mistaken belief in his own legitimacy. The audience doesn’t have a compelling reason to invest in his journey.
Even so, King of New York gets the basics right. Frank’s moves against his enemies are bold and decisive, though they tend to be more blunt than clever. The police act as a wildcard, threatening to throw his plans into disarray. The cast has a few familiar faces, and they’re all in fine form, especially Christopher Walken and Laurence Fishburne. King of New York doesn’t excel at anything in particular, but it delivers what crime fans want.
Check out King of New York if you’re a fan of the crime genre looking for something dark to chew on. Frank’s rise to power and the film’s talented cast are enough to make it a decent watch in spite of some issues with his character. How much you get out of it will depend on what you’re looking for. Those who want a criminal power struggle will get what they’re hoping for. Those hoping for a moving character arc may want to skip it.
For a more dramatic rise to the top of the criminal heap, try Scarface. For a crime drama with a more nuanced protagonist, try Kill the Irishman or Donnie Brasco. For a more darkly comedic use of Christopher Walken, try Suicide Kings.
7.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid execution hurt somewhat by the way it uses its lead.