Movie
Review | Gangs of New York
Reviewed by: Katherine
Brodsky
Scorcese's very much delayed epic is finally here and it has everyone
asking: Was it worth the wait? Well, it depends on what the wait was
for...
If we were waiting for for plenty of gory violence, we got it
(although that may not be a good thing). If we
were waiting for terrific acting, we got it. And if we were waiting
for a true filmmaker's exploration of New York's bloody history, we
got that too. What we also got in the bargain, however, is a limited
point of view.
The film takes off in 1846, as a clan of Irish
immigrants are about to take part in a deadly battle at the dire Five
Corners of New York City, an area where crime is business and business
is crime. The Irish are led by Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson) and their clash
is with William Cutting, also known as Bill The Butcher (Daniel
Day-Lewis), and his Anglo-Saxon 'natives.' When Vallon is killed by
William, his son Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) is sent away to an
orphanage for the next 16 years. There he awaits his chance for retribution.
When finally Amsterdam returns to Five Corners, he faces a city that is
practically ran by Cutting. As Amsterdam plots his way to overthrow
the Butcher, he recruits his own gang and a talented pickpocket
(Cameron Diaz). All this is set to the tune of extreme violence,
detested conscription, heated politics, bigotry, anarchy and the Draft
Riots of 1863.
With "Gangs of New York," critically
acclaimed director Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver) displays why he is so highly
thought of. The film is bold, astounding, cinematically stunning and
grabbing. All this while featuring buckets of blood, guts, knives,
bats and axes, with almost just as much drama. Dark and
disturbing, "Gangs" poses major moral conflicts and
discusses with brutal vividness the history of New York, its people
and its gangs.
Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus brings to life Old
New York with a monochromatic tint, smoke and the glimmering fires
that make the night seem menacing. Similarly the art direction by Robert
Guerra and Stefano Maria Ortloni is stunning. Together, along
with production designer Dante Ferretti, they form a remarkably
authentic city. The city that never sleeps.
However, Scorsese presents hidden and forgotten history, which can
make it difficult for the audience to transfer into their own lives
aside from the historical lesson because it is never pushed enough in
relation to us today. The film also represents a very narrow view
where we are never taken inside the characters' minds, to see how they
feel about their own actions. Also, here, the underdog seems to be much more valued, even if
his actions are as bad as his counterpart's. The characters are mostly painted as either 'good'
or 'bad,' with very few variations. Those who have money are daft
capitalists and those who have political power are completely
corrupt. Although the latter may not be entirely untrue,
"Gangs" presents a restricted vision of New York's history.
This is dangerous.
What's exceptional to watch, however, are the actors.
Although DiCaprio does not quite look the part, he and his thirst for
revenge is thoroughly believable. Especially strong are the battles
within him in regards to 'Bill,' the man who murdered his father vs.
the man who sees Amsterdam as the son he never had. Cameron Diaz is
extremely impressive here as Jenny Everdeane, the pickpocket that
snatches Amsterdam's heart. Her performance is simply bewitching. But
the spotlight is stolen by Daniel Day-Lewis, who keeps us watching
ever so intently by utilizing his great charisma. Although he is the
blood-spilling, butchering 'villain' here, there is so much more going
on. He embodies a humane balance between humor, evil, sadness, terror,
remorse and power. He is a conflicted and complex character, in a
performance that's oozing with charm. In fact, the entire film leans
on his shoulders. The rest of the cast involves decent supporting work from actors like Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson, Liam
Neeson, John C. Reilly, and Henry Thomas.
"Gangs of New York" allows us an inside look
at an epic time and the characters that took part in it. Although that
gaze is imperfect and restricted, it is a worthy effort. The aspects
that did succeed are owed largely to the cast, crisp dialogue,
stunning cinematography and direction. No, we did not get a
masterpiece here, but the vigor is admirable.
Grade: B
FEATURED COMMENTS
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 12 2002 / 08:33:29
IP Address: 151.27.17.137
name = Giovanni
Email = giovataglia@libero.it
comments = Do you think Cameron Diaz has an Oscar chance???
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 12 2002
/ 12:03:17
IP Address: 168.216.200.214
name = Christopher McCarthy
Email = fatass9@hotmail.com
comments = THS MOOVIE SUKS
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 14 2002 / 20:19:19
IP Address: 12.238.249.21
name = A to the N to the D to the R to the E to the W
Email = xf1121dc@hotmail.com
comments = Do you think tall hats will score Day-Lewis any more Oscar
votes? He's got my vote, if anyone is keeping score.
Taaaaaall hat.
Editor's Reply: I'm almost 100% certain that he will get a
nomination...
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 16 2002 / 06:52:34
IP Address: 204.171.48.3
name = Steve
Email = movieman129@hotmail.com
comments = 'Gangs' looks spactacular, especially in Scorsese's hands,
so by reading this review I was a little disappointed. I had
hoped this would be THE movie of the year but a B is hardly that.
Then again, this is coming from a guy who's number one film of the
year is Solaris (thus far), a film that many hated with a passion and
I thought to be a masterpiece. As for Gangs, I only have until
Friday to make up my own mind. Nicely written review.
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 13 2002 / 07:31:06
IP Address: 204.38.32.6
name = bob
Email = sxyprincessoo1
comments = hey
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 28 2002
/ 21:14:13
IP Address: 24.184.40.122
name = Andrea Singer
Email = Clubdate2@aol.com
comments = The movie "Gangs of New York" was a history
lesson. It was film that moved me, and made me think, about our past
history, and how maybe the year may be different, but how behaviors
have a tendency to repeat themselves. I went past the story to the
story of mankind, how each immigrant group coming to America always
struggles to find their way to be apart of our country, and the need
for acceptance. Ignorance and fear only bring our the worst of human
nature, as we saw in the Butcher, played by Daniel Day Lewis, and his
feelings toward the Irish. Gangs of New York is a history lesson
hopefully learned well. I guess I am idealistic, that this type of
history should not repeat itself?
Date/Time of Posting: Dec 30 2002 / 11:32:04
IP Address: 66.38.219.242
name = Booboo
Email = jdbowie@sympatico.ca
comments = Day-Lewis is outstanding but the movie itself needs fine
tuning. Diaz would've have been great on her own but they blew it by
diminishing her to "love interest" status. The time they
wasted on the love story could have been used to tie up the many loose
ends. Cheers
Date/Time of Posting: Jan 02 2003 / 13:20:35
IP Address: 152.163.188.198
name = Bob
Email = BahamaBob7054@aol.com
comments = Was Five Corners an actual NYC neighborhood in the 1800s
and, if so, where was it located? Was its depiction in
"Gangs" historically authentic?
Date/Time of Posting: Jan 09 2003 / 22:57:20
IP Address: 64.12.96.46
name = Joe Governali
Email = Joeytreasures@aol.com
comments = can you tell me if the characters were real people and at
the end the film showed a cemetary in Brooklyn, is that Cemetary still
present and exactly where is it.
Date/Time of Posting: Jan 20 2003 / 01:58:15
IP Address: 213.219.53.29
name = Gilly Gemmell
Email = gillthebean@vmail.virgin.com
comments = This review sums up the film very well. I saw
"Gangs" on Friday and didn't enjoy it at all, mostly due to
the extreme violence and apparent lack of plot. Brilliant acting on
the part of Gleeson and Day-Lewis.
Date/Time of Posting: Feb 21 2003 / 05:16:09
IP Address: 64.12.96.46
name = keith
Email = knighttrain2000@yahoo.com
comments = i loved the movie my sons say that none of it was true but
being 50 i know most was true the five corner is that todays
time square and where can we find more indepth history of this
area please feel free to advise thanks keith
Date/Time of Posting: Feb 26 2003 / 01:24:03
IP Address: 216.127.82.99
Comments: Anyway, back to the film. I didn't watch it hoping for it to
be a history lesson, coming from London I didn't know anything about 5
Points so I watched it how it was supposed to be, just as a film.
Overall I enjoyed it and Daniel Day Lewis turned in a magnificent
performance.
Date/Time of Posting: Feb 26 2003 / 02:45:46
IP Address: 158.125.1.114
name = QC
Email = rashermfc@hotmail.com
Anyway, with regards to the film, it was quite good, nothing
special. Lewis did put in a fine performance as did Di Caprio. Diaz
was good in places and not so good in others.
I would reccomend people watch this, but not to take it so seriously
as some, expecting it to be 99% factually correct, just watch it as a
film, a good one at that.
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Date/Time of Posting: Mar 02 2003 / 16:26:10
IP Address: 208.30.76.209
name = juanita
Email = juanbon1@hotmail.com
comments = on the aspects of a narrow point of view, I would like add
that there are some strong characters that potray a shadow of hope.
Even amongst all the thievery, killing, death, filth and disease.
Not all were money and power hungry. Even Lewis(Bill the
Butcher) himself longs for normal life but would be torn on the
choice. That sort of, "if I could do things
differently" feeling. The thing I found interesting about
the narrow point of view is that for someone living in a world like
that, the point of view would most definitely be narrow. Kill or
be killed so to speak. Even the rich and political foresaw
opportunities to rise and rise quickly. Maybe having been better
educated(not necissarily taught) led them to this quicker than the
people of five points. The real people. The peasant.
Votes, votes, votes right!!
All in all, the movie was fabulous. The cinematography,
characterization relations, comstume design, and intense flow through
history/reality was almost too much to take. I do agree the
average soul of today would have a tough time processing all the
horror of what we like to refer to as some of the simple times.
Lest we forget, there's always war. I was personally taken aback
by the camera shots coupled with costume design. The scenes were
rather busy, but entertaining enough to watch more than once.
Even Liam(Jedi Master) was good. He died well anyway..;o)
Leonardo and Cameron were rather well together and most of the
supporting characters were in sync, but it is/was most definitely
Lewis's character that blew me away. I even dreamt of him and
the movie the eveing I went to it. He brought a magical element
to this film that few would have been able to pull off. As a
matter of fact, after seeing Lewis, I can't imagine anyone else
playing this role. Fully embraced
this one he did. I haven't even seen all of his movies
and somewhat feel compelled to do so now.
Thanks
juan
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