It's not easy being king. Frank White learns this first hand after being released from prison after an extended stay to find that the city that he loves has been taken over by lesser criminals: drug-pushers, child pimps, human smugglers. So he tries to retake his city by consolidating control over its drug industry and eliminating the criminals who smear it. However, the local cops are so committed to taking White down that they resort to certain "extrajudicial" methods. Soon, New York is a battleground. White discovers that he may not have what it takes to be the king in this new town. Abel Ferrara directs this film with a keen eye. He doesn't just see streets or bridges...he sees crime scenes and ghettos full of addicts and prostitutes. He transforms New York into a nightmarish landscape full of noble criminals and crooked cops. The film is brimming with one of the best ensemble casts that I have ever encountered with such names as Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, and Steve Buscemi all sharing the spot-light. It feels like a three hour crime epic that has somehow been miraculously consolidated to a little over 100 minutes. With his cruel and malevolent gaze, Ferrara has created one of the most fascinating, and terrifying, gangster movies of the 90s.
9/10
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