Welcome to New York – Movie Review
Director: Abel Ferrara
Stars: Jacqueline Bisset, Gérard Depardieu, Drena De Niro

In this film Gérard Depardieu plays George Devereaux, the head of a bank and a self confessed sex addict. He lives in a world of high priced hookers, alcohol and drugs. On one trip to New York, after a long night with two prostitues, George meets a hotel chamber maid while leaving his shower. He is naked expect for a towel, which he drops as he approaches the woman…

If this story is sounding familiar, it is because it is loosely based on the Dominique Strauss-Kahn case, who was arrested in JFK Airport in May 2011. The case was dropped against Strauss-Kahn and the civil suit was settled out of court, but it clearly damaged a man who could have gone on to be the French president. The film does not claim to be factual or even mention Strauss-Kahn, but the similarities in the case and the movie are obvious for all to see.

The style of the film tries to capture a fly on the wall documentary at times, with the camera following Depardieu on his daily routine and spends a long time dwelling on the various goings on in hotel rooms. In this, you get to see more of Depardieu than expected, along with the various young ladies he entertains. It is a brave part by Depardieu, as a man in his sixties who hasn’t exactly kept himself trim!

The dialogue in the piece feels as if it is improvised, and there are many moments where you wish it wasn’t! There are scenes with Devereaux being taken into custody, where the various law officials greet and deal with the defendant that add little to the story other to than to prove how the great man has fallen. The camera seems to enjoy this humiliation.

This work is not unusual for Ferrara, who previously directed the Bad Lieutenant and other films dealing with the murky under belly of society. If you’re a fan of his work it will probably appeal, but for me the director was taking too much joy in this man’s fall from grace. The protagonist is peculiarly unsympathetic and to be left in his company for so long makes for tough viewing. It is not without its positives and is certainly brave and ambitious, but ultimately the flaws outweigh anything else.