Nicole Rivelli/Vértigo Films
MOVIE REVIEW
Welcome to New York (2014)
The pre-emptive disclaimer opening Abel Ferrara’s “Welcome to New York” urges that no one interpret the film as commenting on any real-life events in particular; but its lines are so far apart that reading between them and detecting the name of Dominique Strauss-Kahn is taken for granted. Duly primed, the audience is then dealt a disorientating conversation between Gérard Depardieu and three rapt listeners, in which he gnomically ponders why he, the actor, took the part. “I’m an anarchist,” he growls. “I don’t like politicians. I hate them. I prefer acting where I don’t like the guy.” Then you notice that one of the folks paying rapt attention is Shanyn Leigh: a Ferrara regular, memorable in “4:44 Last Day on Earth,” a face in “Go Go Tales.” She’s billed as female journalist. What is going on? Are they holding an acting seminar? Is Mr. Ferrara making a point about life and performance being a hair’s breadth apart? The cloying fakery of the rich and shameless? Or just a way to hang the audience by the heels? Ninety seconds in, and it’s straight down the rabbit hole.