King of New York is certainly one of the most stylish gangster films out there; it is one of the few capturing the film noir look in the modern era. Christopher Walken stars as the recently paroled gangster looking to reclaim his throne as New York’s drug kingpin. Although he is able to cut through his enemies, his further success is marred by a group of rogue cops willing to go outside the law to take him down. Traditional “good guys” and “bad guys” do not exist in this New York. Walken is his usual fantastic self, but Laurence Fishburne deserves special mention for his pre-stardom role as the volatile mob henchman who cackles maniacally after seeing a cop die in grisly fashion. Victor Argo, David Caruso, and Wesley Snipes are also very good as the police officers who take their war against the drug gang personally. Their performances and Abel Ferrara’s direction elevate what is often an incoherent story. I feel that there has to be an eventual director’s cut edition that replaces aspects of the plot left on the cutting room floor.
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