Gangs of New York

Film Title: Gangs of New York
Year: 2002
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 167 minutes
Film Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Historical
Director(s): Martin Scorsese
Producer(s): Maurizio Grimaldi, Michael Hausman, Michael Ovitz, et. al.
Writer(s): Jay Cocks (story and screenplay); Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan (screenplay)
Players:
Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon
Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting
Cameron Diaz as Jenny Everdeane
Jim Broadbent as Boss Tweed
and Liam Neeson as "Priest" Vallon
Plot: A young boy watches as his father, a supposed priest, is murdered. Years later, he looks for revenge. There's only one problem though, the man who murdered his father is the most powerful man in Manhatten.
Acting: For the most part I liked the characters in the film. Leo Di plays the retribution-driven Amsterdam. "He is the eyes through which we see the others but is not the most colorful person on the canvas" (rogerebert.suntimes.com). Day-Lewis and Diaz add that color, along with characters such as the historical "Boss" Tweed and Happy Jack.
Cinematography: The film is somewhat generic in its use of the camera. There are not as many iconic shots as one would expect, especially from a Scorsese flick.
Visual: Many of the effects made up for the lack of cinematographical mediocrity. A smoke-filled fight between Bill and Amsterdam creates incredible tension about who will be victorious. The final scene is a foreground shot of a cemetary where two main characters are buried with the background being a skyline shot of Manhatten. Four time-progressions occur with the New York skyline growing taller and taller and the cemetary becoming more and more overgrown - the symbolism of a tempestual but forgotten past.
Audio: Music was an important part of this film. U2 performed the opening song The Hands that Built America and Peter Gebriel contributed a song as well. Some 6 performers total contributed original music.
What to watch for: Stunning sets, whether digital or real. Surprisingly good performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio.
What to watch out for: Extreme senquences of Violence; Blood; Language; Wanton Sexual Content
When I watched it last: Three nights prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 7.2 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; "It is very good but not great."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 7.1 out of 10; Skip a scene or two or three; A decent Scorsese movie, but yet another reason why he hasn't won an Oscar.
- - Reveiwed by JB