Abel Ferrara's King of New York and Mario Van Peebles's New Jack City are New York gangster films released just six months apart.

While King of New York didn't find success at release, it gained appreciation on the home rental market and has undergone re-appraisal as one of Ferrara's best.

New Jack City was a box-office hit, launching Wesley Snipes to leading-man status and cementing the acting career of rapper Ice-T.

But in a head-to-head battle, which one of these early '90s gangster films comes out on top?

This episode delves into the execution of these films to answer essential questions, such as which would win a rap battle against the other, which characters would take out whom in a fictional fight, and, of course, which movie tops the other.

Join me for the first head-to-head, versus-format episode of 'Not Now in Theaters.'

King of New York stars Christopher Walken, Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo, Wesley Snipes, Janet Julian, Joey Chin, Giancarlo Esposito, and Paul Calderon.

New Jack City stars Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Chris Rock, Mario Van Peebles, and Judd Nelson

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Luc Besson's Subway is unlike the Luc Besson movies I know.

Growing up on his films like The Fifth Element or Leon: The Professional, I thought this was going to be another quirky action film.

I got something completely different, but I loved it.

The movie tells the story of Fred, an aimless miscreant, who flees the people he has stolen from to land in the mysterious labyrinth of the Paris Metro, where he falls into a life among other people who scratch out a living underground, all while trying to woo a beautiful woman and assemble his dream band.

Subway is a prime example of France's Cinema du look movement (Cinema of the Look), characterized by films full of alienated young characters with a visually driven and energetic, music-video-like style.

In this episode, I discuss what makes Subway such a compelling film and examine its lasting legacy in France and worldwide.

Starring Isabelle Adjani and Christopher Lambert and nominated for 13 Cesar Awards.

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Lawrence and Mark Kasdan's Silverado is a revival of the old western genre tropes when the cowboy stuff was ah-fading.

With its 133-minute runtime and a stellar cast, including Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, Linda Hunt, and more, the movie is just exploding with western. 

And, hey, if you can roll with its apple pie nature, it's a lot of fun.

Join me for this episode talking about the slightly campy but good times of VHS-era favorite Silverado.

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The Shooting, a so-called "anti-western" or "acid western," is compelling literally and figuratively.

A Criterion classic and a film with, at the time of writing, a 100% critical score on the website Rotten Tomatoes, the movie never had a widespread American theatrical release but survived thanks to its acclaim.

Starring Warren Oates, Millie Perkins, Will Hutchins, and Jack Nicholson, and directed by Monte Hellman, a woman hires two men to take her through the desert. For what purpose? She won't entirely say. 

As tension builds and things get more complicated, well, all you can do is feel the doom of it all.

And as things get fuzzier, perhaps the line between straight narrative and existential pondering builds, the real mastery here is not overdoing it.

Join me for a discussion of this captivating film and its lasting legacy.

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Stuart Gordon's Fortress is a science-fiction and action film that feels like a B-movie, even with its theatrical release.

Well-remembered by many who saw it, it's a somewhat popular pick among video-store era enthusiasts.

With practical effects and the interesting talents of the one and only Christopher Lambert (Highlander), this episode takes a look at whether the film stacks up as a worthy watch.

Join me for a discussion of its dystopian themes, how Lambert's off-beat persona is a plus, and the film's lasting legacy.

Starring Christopher Lambert, Loryn Locklin, and Kurtwood Smith.

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Rolling Thunder is a cult classic revenge film with notable fans, including Quentin Tarantino.

Written by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) and rewritten by Heywood Gould (Cocktail), it's about a prisoner of war's return home only to find a new conflict in suburbia.

When his family is killed, the already-damaged veteran Major Charles Rane gears up for a quest of revenge to kill the men who ruined what was left of his life.

Directed by John Flynn and starring William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones, the film is labeled as "vetsploitation" fare but carries tension all beneath the surface.

Listen in for a discussion of the movie's strengths, where I felt it could improve, how the final product deviated from Schrader's vision, and the film's lasting legacy.

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Runaway Train is the only "philosophical" action thriller I've ever heard of. 

Based on an original script by the legendary Akira Kurosawa, it combines American action thrills with Eastern existential questions.

This unique blend was a critical darling, but it didn't sell many tickets at the box office. But it's remembered today as one of the best films of the Cannon Group and frequently appears on "underrated" lists.

Powered by Oscar-nominated performances from Jon Voight and Eric Roberts, Runaway Train is about two convicts who escape prison only to find themselves aboard a conductor-less locomotive headed for a grisly crash.

Join me for a discussion on what makes this movie still worth your time, my thoughts on its themes, and the film's lasting legacy.

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Writer/director Tom DiCillo's Living in Oblivion is an independent 1990s cult classic comedy about the perils of making films.

Rumor has it that the movie is shown in film schools as a warning of frustrations to come.

With hilarious performances from Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney, James Le Gros, Peter Dinklage, and more, you'll get a firsthand tour of toil that will dispel any notion of glamour you had about the movie business.

Listen in to learn why this movie is comedy gold and its lasting legacy.

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Neil Marshall's Dog Soldiers (2002) is an action/horror movie that really gets the slash part of the equation correct. 

Well balanced between the two genres, this lower-budget British film is about a squad of soldiers squaring off against a pack of bloodthirsty werewolves.

It ditches the melodrama of many werewolf films, focusing on intense firefights and close-quarters battles instead of the curse of existing only to transform and kill every full moon.

A cult classic in many circles, the movie was never given a widespread theatrical release in the United States but is still well-remembered internationally.

Tune in to discuss whether or not these are among the best werewolf costumes of all time, why this film keeps it simple and succeeds, and to learn more about the production and lasting legacy of the film.

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Writer/Director (and sometimes comic book maker) S. Craig Zahler's Brawl in Cell Block 99 is a Neo-noir prison action thriller film.

If that sounds like trying to stuff way too many genres into one movie, fear not: it's violent and compelling, plain and simple.

With his churning style, Zahler makes a slow-roasted film that occasionally explodes into fits of violence you can't unsee.

But with standout performances from Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Carpenter, and more, the film pulls you into its characters' plight and forces you to see it through. It's as much about a harrowing journey as it is any chaotic spectacle.

Join me for this episode as we talk about why this movie is worth your time and what legacy it has as a modern cultish favorite.

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