King of New York (Abel Ferrara, 1990)

King of New YorkSomewhat overrated, but undeniably fascinating and quite absorbing, this stylish and racially charged crime drama posits Christopher Walken as a drug lord reclaiming his territory after a long stint in jail and, in an ironic turn, using the money to help the poor by saving a community hospital. No one captures the squalor of pre-Giuliani New York quite like Ferrara, and here he pours it on, especially via juxtaposition with power and wealth. Ferrara’s camerawork is icy and precise, and the film leaves you with the knotted feeling that accompanies any worthwhile questioning of moral authority. (DVD)