10 July 2008

Abel Ferrara is almost the definition of the outsider filmmaker, a maverick director whose unique take on the crime, drama and horror genres may have produced a couple of howlers, but has also resulted in some real gems along the way. One of the best remains his 1990 crime drama King of New York, his first big budget movie and one that has too often been criminally overlooked in the years since its initial release.

Christopher Walken stars as Frank White, recently released from prison and single-mindedly determined to rebuild his drug-dealing empire and to regain his position as the head of New York's criminal underworld. After setting up headquarters in a suite at the Plaza Hotel, his first step involves the fearless and methodical elimination of any competition, from the low-ranking Colombian drug cartels to the Triads and even the Italian mafia clans. As the streets run red with the blood of the drug lords and their henchmen, Frank begins to use his position, influence and support of charitable causes to charm his way into the favour of the city's politicians and social elite.

Immune to Frank's charisma and unimpressed by his threats, police chief Roy Bishop's only concern is to use the power of the law to bring an end to the killing and the drug trafficking. But rogue cops Dennis Gilley (David Caruso) and Thomas Flanigan (Wesley Snipes) have other ideas. Frustrated by Frank's ability to remain untouchable, they decide the only way to bring him down is to do it themselves, vigilante-style.

With a visual style worthy of DePalma or Michael Mann (Ferrara had previously worked as a director for producer Mann on both Crime Story and Miami Vice) and impressively staged set pieces – including a balletic orgy of bloodshed, a thrilling car chase over the Queensboro Bridge and a dramatic finale set in Times Square – King of New York is a great crime movie that deserves rediscovery.

Well the news on that score is good for UK viewers, as King of New York is to be released on UK DVD as a 2-disc limited edition steelbook DVD by Arrow Films on 22nd September 2008. And unlike Arrow's 2-disc release of Romero's Martin, that second disc here is definitely justified. Boasting a remastered picture and Dolby Digital stereo 2.0 and 5.0 surround soundtracks, the special features, some of which fans of the film may recognise from Artisan's US 2-disc DVD, have been confirmed as:

Disc One

• Audio commentary by director Abel Ferrara;
• Audio commentary by composer Joe Delia, producer Mary Kane, editor Anthony Redman and casting director Randy Sabusawa.

Disc Two

• Interview with producer Augusto Caminito;
• Documentary on Abel Ferrara's career and the making of King of New York;
• The Adventures of Schooly D: Snowboarder documentary - a portrait of Schoolly D, the father of gangsta rap and the inspiration for King of New York;
• Cinema, de notre temps documentary – Abel Ferrara Not Guilty;
• Hollywood Superstars: Christopher Walken.