Gangs Of New York
Are you aware of Daniel Day-Lewis' remarkable acting talents? If you said "yes," then you: A) are lying; B) appreciate his fine performances in low-profile films such as In the Name of the Father, or C) were impressed with his Academy Award-nominated work in the recent epic The Gangs of New York. Day-Lewis' method-acting techniques have earned him three Oscar nominations (including one win) and a reputation for hard-core method acting among fellow thespians. His widely acclaimed performance in Gangs may net Day-Lewis a wider appreciation, even if he returns to retirement.
The film is set in mid-1800s New York. "Priest" Vallon (Liam Neeson) is the leader of a small Irish group, which is being persecuted by the natives, led by Bill "the Butcher" Cutting (Day-Lewis). The Irish have had enough, and it's time to rumble. Both sides battle valiantly, but the natives win when Bill fatally stabs Priest in front of his son, Amsterdam. The boy is then sent to an orphanage.
Sixteen years later, Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to New York. He's shifted his heart into "revenge" gear, but how will he find his father's killer? This task will be easier than expected, because the Butcher is apparently the most powerful man in New York. Amsterdam quickly becomes Bill's right-hand man. Together with a pretty pickpocket (Cameron Diaz), Amsterdam enters into a Hamlet-like plan of vengeance.
Bill the Butcher is one of the most fascinating and respectable movie villains I have ever witnessed. As young Amsterdam hovers over his dying father, Bill recommends that the lad get an education. It would have been smarter, from Bill's standpoint, to kill the lad immediately to eliminate a chance for revenge (as intended by Don Ciccio in The Godfather: Part II). Also, the Butcher's accuracy and precision in knife-throwing matches the marksmanship of a S.W.A.T. team member. Finally, Bill honors his victims, particularly Priest Vallon. Years after the melee, Bill describes Priest in positive terms to Amsterdam before finding out the truth of Amsterdam's lineage. Day-Lewis' performance is certainly the pinnacle of this epic historical drama.
Gangs could mean a comeback for Martin Scorcese, who has directed many controversial films in the past three decades (Taxi Driver, The Last Tempation Of Christ) but has been largely under the radar since Cape Fear (1991). The battle scenes exceed Scorcese's standards of film violence. Some moviegoers might piss and moan at the 2-hour-45-minute running time, but nearly every scene is needed to set up a credible conclusion. The finale is masterfully executed in terms of its cinematography and music.
The Gangs of New York really got it up the poop chute during the 2002 Academy Awards: 10 nominations (including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor), but nothing to show for it. Regardless, it's a worthy film by one of America's most influential directors.
Send any comments/ feedback to the author.
Bill the Cutter drinks beer flambe. That sounds more daring than your legal-age roommate buying you a case of Beast.
Graphic violence and unnecessary nudity are NOT the new Spanish fly.
Buy this DVD from Amazon.com
Buy This Photo Enlargement At AllPosters.com
Buy This Original Poster At AllPosters.com
Related Articles:
1) Catch Me If You Can
2) There's Something About Mary
3) Top 10 Hottest Actors
4) Top 10 Hottest Actresses
5) Best Of 2002
