Welcome to New York

2014
12
2h 5m

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

Gérard Depardieu in Welcome to New York (2014)

Mr. Devereaux is a powerful man - a man who handles billions of dollars every day. A man who controls the economic fate of nations. A man driven by a frenzied and unbridled sexual hunger. A man who dreamed of saving the world and who cannot save himself. A terrified man. A lost man.

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Crime Drama

A high-powered financial titan who controls global markets struggles with his inner demons while grappling with uncontrollable personal urges and mounting fears.A high-powered financial titan who controls global markets struggles with his inner demons while grappling with uncontrollable personal urges and mounting fears.A high-powered financial titan who controls global markets struggles with his inner demons while grappling with uncontrollable personal urges and mounting fears.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

4.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 1:43

Official Trailer

Photos50

+ 45

User reviews32

5.64.1K

Featured reviews

4joefhaddad-680-7471

Gauche, Uninformed and Exhausting

What is this piece of work? An auteur film? A low-budged shock movie like "La Grande Bouffe" or "Baise-moi"? A porno? Whatever the case, this catastrophic film makes you wonder whether Abel Ferrara has really been directing movies for 40 years. Inconsistent characters, uneven editing and dialogue lines that are laughable at best and disturbingly weak at worst make this this movie a really painful experience, like a great romantic Austrian orchestral piece performed out of tune all the way through. The exhaustingly long and slow vampire of a film that is Welcome to New York begs the questions: has the production been rushed for some troubled reason(s)? is that why it backfires on all technical levels? did they use rehearsal footage? is that why the acting is so all over the place? There are, however, a few interesting moments here and there in the film: Depardieu's monologue towards the end of the film, the lighting reflected on Jacqueline Bisset during a quarrel in the couple's home cinema. They're only details, unfortunately, and they're not powerful enough to save the film from drowning. Abel Ferrara proves that being a "unique" artist doesn't make you a "competent" one and, most of all, that you can't always blame gaucherie on art.

6dragokin

"the future president of France"

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.

4jbadewitz

Very good acting by Bisset & Depardieu

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..)

6claudio_carvalho

Long, Uneven, Inconclusive

In New York, the French director of the World Bank Mr. Devereaux (Gérard Depardieu) is a pervert and womanizer, partying and participating in gang bangs with women. When he tries to rape the hotel housekeeper in his room, the woman reports to the police. Devereaux is arrested, affecting also the life of his wife Simone (Jacqueline Bisset).

"Welcome to New York", by Abel Ferrara, is a long, uneven and inconclusive film based on the New York v. Strauss-Kahn case. The story shows the lead character Devereaux as an egocentric, pervert and sick womanizer through excessive sex scenes and his relationship with his daughter and wife. When he is released in house arrest, the screenplay is developed at a very slow pace and is boring. However the lack of conclusion is terrible. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Bem-Vindo a Nova York" ("Welcome to New York")

6maureen-andersson-1

Not the best Depardieu, but watchable...

I was pleased when this film became available on Netflix and then on DVD, because I am an unconditional fan of Gérard Depardieu even though he is no longer the healthy-looking star he used to be, and also because I was convinced from day one that DSK had fallen into a trap set by his political enemies. Only two people know exactly what happened that day in his hotel room, so this is indeed a fictional version, but when Depardieu's character tells his wife that he is not guilty as accused, I for one believe him. It's watchable, and almost philosophical when he talks to his very rich wife about the sharing of wealth. And if anyone is disappointed by Depardieu's performance in this movie, I recommend director Jean Becker's delightful film "La Tête en friche" (My Afternoons with Margueritte) in which Depardieu is brilliant. Jacqueline Bisset's performance here is remarkable too.

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Storyline

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Trivia
When director Abel Ferrara received a letter from IFC Films, the US distributor, telling the filmmaker to deliver an R-rated version so that it could match the version to be released on Showtime during its pay TV window, the director was disgusted and refused to back down telling THR "Welcome to New York is not being distributed in the U.S. because of this company, IFC, which I'm totally disgusted with." He stated "They knew from day one when they bought this film that they had the final version and that it wasn't going to be changed."

Goofs
When the Detectives are introduced, one is wearing an NYPD Detective Shield (badge), one a Sergeant's Shield. The Sergeant introduces himself to the hotel official as "Lieutenant Landano." Immediately after, he introduces himself to the housekeeper as "Sergeant Landano."

Quotes
Devereaux: Since childhood, I've been brainwashed. By my parents, my teachers.My teachers, my superiors at work.I'm lucky, I'm not a Christian.But I'd like to say this: When I die, I will kiss God's ass forever.I found my God.You.My first God? I didn't find it in a church, but in a classroom.It was idealism. What a magnificent God! To believe everything would be ok. I was in the temple that is university. First as a student, then as a professor. And I allowed myself to be wrapped in that hallowed light. Injustice? We had righted all the wrongs. World hunger? Everyone would eat until they were full. Poverty? A distant memory whose existence would be difficult even to imagine. Wealth would be spread around. To each according to his needs. That's right. It was only when I arrived at the World Bank that the enormity of the world's pathos, the infinite suffering inherent in human nature, revealed itself in all its horrible manifestations. Slowly. One day at a time. No. One minute at a time. I understood the futility of struggling against this insurmountable tsunami of troubles that we face. Things will not change. The hungry will die. The sick? They too will die. Poverty, It's good business. Wise men are comforted by their limitations. I'm overwhelmed by this revelation. No. I can't return to that blissful youth. No redemption for me.

Alternate versions
In the US, the MPAA initially rated this NC-17 and required cuts of scenes of sexual assault to gain an 'R' rating, much to the disgust of the director, Abel Ferrara.