Bienvenue à New York

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.

Devereaux (Depardieau) came to New York for sex, party and pleasure. Somehow maybe one of his perversions is toward maid submission, which he thinks is OK. Then a hotel housemaid made rape allegation at Devereaux, which made him detained

The pace of Welcome to New York is good. Somewhat you immersed in that pace. As an educated shallow main character, you will develop hatred toward him. Justification over another justification to reach freedom he craved-"a wealthy freedom"

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.

This film has many different rhythms and paces. At first the prolonged sex scenes last so long that they became uncomfortable and disturbing.Although the sex with the prostitutes was consensual Depardieux grunted in almost pig like fashion as he lost himself in debauchery and lust. It had the feel of a porn film but with believable characters. The scenes with Depardieux and Bissett often have the feel of improvisation particularly at the beginning. It would have been nice to have seen more of the victims reactions to the abuse that they were subjected too. The unrepentant nature of the lead character is alarming and brutally honest.He does not seek to be cured even after his arrest makes his life fall apart. He shows no feeling for his victims and just is a serial abuser. His blunt attempts at seduction is seen to be successful in one instance due to his wealth and status and overt womanising. Like Bad Lieutenant this film delivers moments of brutality and spiritual abandon. In both films the central characters are spiralling out of control. The Gauguin nudes on the walls of the apartment are well placed. In all despite the lengthy sex scenes and drawn out almost real time arrest the film is well constructed and well acted. The surreal almost "bad actor" dialogues between Bissett and Depardieux as they confront the aftermath of his arrest fluctuates between the inane and the poetic. I really liked the line that,"The reverse of Love is not hate but indifference" delivered by Bissett. The fact that this film is based on true events adds weight to the subject matter. A difficult film to watch and an adult film on more than one level.

"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!