This (1990) drug fuelled joy ride is an Abel Ferrara creation (Bad Lieutenant and Driller Killer) he does both the screenplay and direction. It stars one of my all time favourite actors Christopher Walken as Frank White. The films opening credits begin with Frank leaving the big house (prison). The tone is set early with his former competition taken out swiftly, set against a New York back drop which covers both high society and the seedier gang controlled back streets. Walken is sublime throughout he plays a kind of a vengeful Robin Hood, don't get me wrong he is a stone cold killer throughout but you really get to see his vision for a sort of socialist gang. The story covers the police who can't let go of the fact he has been released and in some ways they are worse than Frank. To Frank's need to do something good and leave a legacy. The cast includes Victor Argo as Roy Bishop the lead detective, supported by David Caruso and Wesley Snipes. While Walken's entourage includes Laurence Fishburn (Larry on the credits) as Jimmy Jump and Steve Buscemi as Test Tube. The film has a great hip hop soundtrack and a true quintessential 90's feel from suits to stretch limo's. The cinematography is great and you can see the expense through vast defused lighting in hotel rooms to the bleak back drop of the rain drenched streets. The audio is really well done too there is a scene where they use the subway to score the scene. There is a good balance of hard hitting action sequences and well written monologues. Plus a great car chase involving a limo a personal favourite. Laurence Fishburn does really well in his scenes with Walken to hold his own. This film became a springboard for a group of actors including Fishburn, Snipes and Janet Julian.
In closing if this crept under your radar on release or you never got around to seeing it. A cult movie (though Ferrara likes to gloss over this) well worth a watch. It gets a gun wielding 8 out of 10
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