I have never been disappointed with an Abel Ferrara film yet never seem in a rush to see a new one. I guess the ferocity of emotions he tends to whip up are both exciting and disturbing. This particular film, depicting the events surrounding Dominique Strauss- Kahn's attack upon a maid in his New York hotel was so dismissed by the critics at the time of its release, I delayed my viewing. No need to have had any doubts though, this is a sensationally good film. Gerard Depardieu was a fantastic choice to play the lead for despite all the horrors and abuse of power, there is something about the actor and his reputation that presumably, like DSK in real life, prevents the viewer from totally dismissing the guy as an animal. A couple of devastating, direct to camera stares underline this, 'Who are you to judge me?' attitude. Jacqueline Bisset is also very effective as his then wife and there is a very powerful scene when she is showing him round the flat she has found for him and tries to resist his clumsy advances. The dialogue is brilliant throughout and totally believable and it seemed to me that i may never have heard such convincing lines from non white actors, particularly in the courtroom, police and prison scenes. The whole sequence following the removal from the plane and his incarceration and strip search are spine tinglingly believable. I must also mention that before we launch into the main story Ferrara presents us with the DSK view of the world with 'ladies' sweeping into a briefing session to fold themselves over his lap and offer a blow job. And then an orgy scene in New York shot really tight with just parts of bodies visible and cocaine laced whipped cream much to the fore. A highly erotic scene to set us up for the main body of the film leaving us in no doubt all the while that a certain part of the man's (any man's?) anatomy is directing his actions.
Review of Welcome to New York
