King of New York
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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King of New York (1990) is an American film directed by Abel Ferrara and written by Nicholas St. John. It stars Christopher Walken as a New York City drug kingpin rebuilding his criminal empire after his release from prison, while also attempting to go legitimate. Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo and Wesley Snipes co-star, with supporting roles played by Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Buscemi, Paul Calderón, Janet Julian and Theresa Randle. It was released by Carolco Pictures (through New Line Cinema) on September 22, 1990, to generally positive reviews.
Plot
Frank White, a drug lord, strives to control New York City's criminal underground. Shortly after his release from prison, White and his crew, led by his trigger-happy right-hand man Jimmy Jump, consolidate power by eliminating their rivals in the Colombian drug cartel and Triad. White personally executes a Mafia boss who refuses to cooperate with him.
White's exploits catch the attention of the NYPD's narcotics squad. Detectives Bishop, Gilley and Flanigan confront White but lack any tangible evidence to arrest him. They instead turn their attention to White's henchmen, whom they arrest after a surviving member of the Colombian drug cartel agrees to cooperate with the police.
White's lawyers intervene and free the men from jail. Gilley and Flanigan are frustrated and lead a clandestine operation to take down White and his crew. They storm a night club where White is partying and kill many of his men. White and Jump survive the raid but are chased by Gilley and Flanigan. Jump ambushes and mortally wounds Flanigan. Gilley is unable to resuscitate his partner, and shoots Jump in a fit of rage.
A grief-stricken Gilley attends Flanigan's funeral, where he is abruptly murdered by White in a drive-by shooting. White then confronts detective Bishop in his own apartment. He holds him at gunpoint while explaining he eliminated the Colombian drug cartel and Triad in New York City because he disapproved of their involvement in human trafficking and child prostitution. White restrains Bishop to a chair and leaves.
Bishop escapes his restraints and chases White into the subway. Both men draw guns on each other, but White uses an innocent bystander as a human-shield. The two exchange gunfire and Bishop is killed. White exits the subway and makes his way to a taxi in Times Square. He clutches a gunshot wound on his chest and watches as police surround his taxi. White goes limp and dies as the police close in on him.
Cast
- Christopher Walken as Frank White
- David Caruso as Detective Dennis Gilley
- Laurence Fishburne (credited as Larry Fishburne) as Jimmy Jump
- Victor Argo as Lieutenant Roy Bishop
- Wesley Snipes as Detective Tommy Flanigan
- Janet Julian as Jennifer
- Giancarlo Esposito as Lance
- Paul Calderón as Joey Dalesio
- Steve Buscemi as Test Tube
- Joey Chin as Larry Wong
- Theresa Randle as Raye
- Leonard L. Thomas as Blood
- Roger Guenveur Smith as Tanner
- Carrie Nygren as Melanie
- Ernest Abuba as "King Tito" Salvador
- Frank Adonis as Paul Calgari
- Erica Gimpel as Dr. Shute
- Frank Gio as Arty Clay
- Robert LaSardo as Nico
- Harold Perrineau as Subway Mugger
- James Lorinz as Tip Connolly
- Gary Landon Mills as Chilly
- Alonna Shaw as Kathleen Mulligan-Connolly
- Jay Julien as Abraham Cott
- Freddy Howard as Emilio El Zapa
- Lia Chang as Triad Member
- Vanessa Angel as British Woman
- Phoebe Legere as Prostitute
- Freddie Jackson as Himself
- Ariane Koizumi as Herself
- Pete Hamill as Himself
- David Proval as Card Player (uncredited)
See also
