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The question is, does a talented cast make a great film? Well, maybe not a great one but certainly a satisfactory one. Walken plays drug lord Frank White who recently was released from prison. White tries to regain control of his reigns on New York City by eliminating all his enemies and taking back what was taken from him, including his high priced lawyer/girlfriend. The problem is the cops (Caruso, Snipes) are watching him like hawks, expecting Frank to mess up again, and they can’t wait until he does so they can put him back where he belongs – in prison.


But White is smarter then they think and proves to be harder to nail than a three-sided screw. The battle between the cops and White turns personal and the whole city becomes their war grounds while the cops fight to get rid of White who takes a contract out on anyone who tries to stand in his way.


Sound all too familiar? It is. Played out like a cop story you’ve seen many a time in different variations, KING is formulaic action/adventure in the world of the drug lords fighting over territory. It is obvious that even director Ferrara knows this when he chooses not to explain certain relationships White had with his fellow drug lords that cause White, once out of prison, to kill a great number of his past associates. It is to be understood that something had gone very, very wrong with these gentlemen and White as if Ferrara is saying, “Remember when you’ve seen that before in other drug lord movies? Well that’s what’s happening here so I don’t have to explain.”

Without an explanation, the film is without feeling. It’s like going through the emotions without any sense of urgency, backing or interest. On the other hand if you are into this genre, don’t really care much about originality and have limited expectations for your living room screenings than this might suffice your appetite for those of you who are desperate action film junkies who need a quick generic fix. -- Pamela Harland

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originally posted: 02/24/01 21:41:19
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