Bem-Vindo a Nova York

Even a good cast can not save Welcome to New York from the label of mediocre.

The film tells the tale of a lecherous, moneyed Frenchman who is accused of raping a housemaid whilst staying in a ritzy New York Hotel.

Gerard Depardieu offers up a reasonable if not exceptional performance as the male lead. His character is a rather revolting, dissipated type who is driven primarily by sex, which he equates with a disease.His character is not that complex and as such, not terribly interesting.

By contrast, his long suffering wife, played by Jacqueline Bisset, offers up a passionate performance as a woman driven to pure exasperation and despair by a man she still loves in spite of his conspicuous faults.

Its a very personal drama let down by limited character development and the rather stunted story line which leaves the viewer asking what it is they have just witnessed. Indeed, Welcome to New York really amounts to little more than a reiteration of life's realities, that the world is an unfair, unjust place where money makes a huge difference and the dysfunctional go on being dysfunctional.

Five out to ten from me.

okay, this movie is not very "deep", its more like a real-time documentation of some real life facts/conditions.. so, for about 20-30min its really a "Welcome to New York" with all its special realities.. i was constantly wondering during the movie, what the deeper thoughts of Abel Ferrara and Depardieu & Bisset were to make this half-documentary.. Abel Ferrara made such great films like "Bad Lieutenant" (as you surely know)->what does he (and Depardieu & Bisset) wants to tell us with that ? i guess almost nothing->for me it culminates in a superb acting scene with Bisset and Depardieu at the end.. its a "homage" to two great actors: Bisset & Depardieu.. thats all,thats it..if you are a great Bisset&Depardieu+Movie-Fan, you will like it->great acting !! (PS.appendix: after watching it by chance for a second time in an "Uncut"- Version, its also mainly a "blaming the capitalism", was ,but not so, clear before in the "cutted"-version..)

Anyone acquainted with the Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal that rocked international media would find Welcome to New York interesting. The movie gave us some time in private with the main protagonist, although it's clearly been a work of fiction, as the introductory notes underlined.

In this movie the aesthetics of Abel Ferrara were put to gut use. As it usually has been the case with his movies, it was difficult to say whether the look and feel of a TV docudrama was intentional or the budget didn't allow a better postproduction. Either way, it sat well with Welcome to New York. It was a gritty insight into the daily routine of an important man who, after a hard day's work, relaxed in some debauchery.

From there we go to a cordial welcome at NYPD until the big international capital intervened and charges were dropped. The last section of the movie, although the least exciting, gave the main protagonist the opportunity to spend some time under house arrest and open his heart. And it wasn't the possibility that both himself and Dominique Strauss-Kahn could have become "the future president of France" that made my stomach turn. It was rather his/theirs inability to perceive any wrongdoing and the unwillingness to repent.

"Welcome to New York" is based on the real-life scandal that involved the french diplomat Dominique Strauss-Kahn who was a member of french Socialist Party and also the Managing Director of IMF (Int. Monetary Fund) from 2007-2011 until he resigned due to allegation that he had sexually abused a hotel maid.

"Welcome to New York" presents this affair in a masterful way, that one would find it hard to get the attention off the screen even for a second. Be advised that this is not something Ferrara has done in the past during his long career. For the director this is just the first time that he elaborates a certain real life event to the last detail.

Welcome to New York proves that for Ferrara this is just the right kind of stuff that he can handle with ease with his unique talent. He has been provocative for all his carrier and this material proves to be something that can deliver without making a false step on the process.

On the other hand, Dapardieu gives one of the best performances of his carrier. He's so convincing as Deveraux that one can say he's the real man (DSK). The script doesn't exaggerate, - written by Ferrara himself and Zois (who worked previously with Ferrara in "New Rose Hotel"),- it handles the story plain and simple, in order for Ferrara to do his thing behind the camera without losing the focus from the real life story.

Undoubtedly, one of the best parts of the movie is when he (Devereaux) boards the plane, then is asked to step out and the whole police procedure begins. Depardieu feels very comfortable during this complex scenes as does Ferrara, who doesn't hesitate even for a second to show us what the real man experienced.

As the movie progresses another real life accusation is unfolded. Strauss Kahn, after the New York arrest, tried to rape a journalist. In real life this allegation happened to Strauss-Kahn who was accused for such an act and is scheduled to appear in court for trial in 2015.

Bisset plays Devereaux's wife and fulfills the other part of the story.

If you are not convinced and need more reasons to watch this or don't want to be misled and stay away from it consider the following: If you are familiar with the real life story of DSK then give it a shot, you wont be disappointed. If you are not an Abel Ferrara fan, then skip it (it will be your loss). If you want to see Depardieu on one of his best roles he has ever done in his career then watch it. He was the perfect choice for this role. If you are not a fan of movies where unpleasant situations are unraveled in details, then don't watch it.

Hope this helped!

This film tells the story of a powerful French man in the field of economics, who is addicted to sex. He runs into trouble when he is accused of raping a hotel maid in New York.

I think the problem about "Welcome to New York" is that everyone knows the whole plot already before watching the film, so it is a challenge to keep viewers interested and surprised. Having extended sex scenes one after another may superficially do the trick, but ultimately I find "Welcome to New York" lacking in real substance. The wife, Simone, is likable and gives convincing displays of emotions. I am sympathetic towards her character. The main character, Devereaux, on the other hand, lacks that certain spark. I guess it is because his character is so egocentric and pathological that he does not show much emotions. He only sweet talk to ladies, yet he is not shown to be able to do much else. The filmmakers could have made it interesting by throwing in more courtroom drama, or more public outcry. There are loads of missed opportunities with the film to deliver a gripping and sensational story.