gangs of new york

Hype machines be damned. Forget the rumors of derision behind the scenes, forget the cost over-runs and lack of onscreen chemistry between two of the leading actors. Forget that Miramax and Harvey Weinstein had anything whatsoever to do with cutting, budgeting or otherwise exercising creative control over the finished product. "Gangs of New York" is pure Scorsese through-and-through and for that audiences should be eternally grateful. We're not force-fed a toned down, been-there-done-that formula film. Instead Scorsese delivers an epic motion picture showcasing a critical time in our nation's history. Violent, disturbing, and visually commanding, "Gangs of New York" succeeds because of Scorsese's determination to pay tribute to New York's brutal and chaotic past. Set in the Five Points neighborhood of 1860s New York, the movie follows a young Irish American, Amsterdam Vallan (Leonardo DiCaprio), who sees his father, Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson), leader of the Irish immigrants street gang the Dead Rabbits, killed in a street brawl with a rival gang led by William Cutting aka Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis). Emerging from an orphanage 16 years after his father's death, Amsterdam is determined to ingratiate himself into Bill's confidence and then once in a position of power, cut down the man who butchered his father. Amsterdam's plan works, however he finds himself falling under the spell of the captivating Bill the Butcher. His carefully laid plans for vengeance rage against his growing admiration for The Butcher. Then events occur which take the onus out of Amsterdam's hands and force him to become a leader like his father, taking up arms against the gangs who laid waste to the Dead Rabbits. Set amidst urban uprisings and the 1863 Civil War Draft Riots, "Gangs of New York" paints a gritty picture of the struggle for freedom, dignity and the right to make a life for one's self in America. While Scorsese's sets and costumes effectively evoke the feel of the late 1800s, it's Daniel Day-Lewis who gives life to the spirit of the times. Daniel Day-Lewis is seemingly possessed by his character, Bill the Butcher. His imposing presence onscreen overshadows every other actor, consuming the screen and reducing all other characters to mere side notes. The man is absolutely phenomenal. Hand him an Oscar now, there's no performance by a leading actor out there that stands up to Day-Lewis in "Gangs of New York." Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon is no match for Day-Lewis, however when not in the same scenes with Day-Lewis, DiCaprio handled his role like a Rottweiler going after a piece of juicy tenderloin. The film had its slower moments when it focused on the romance between Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. I personally had a hard time seeing a spark between the two. I could have better envisioned Diaz and DiCaprio having more of a sibling-type relationship rather than a romantic one. There just wasn't any apparent sizzle. Diaz fared only slightly better when paired with Day-Lewis. "Gangs of New York" would have been an even better film had there not been any hint of a romantic angle. It didn't need the love story and seemed to bog down when focusing its energies in that direction. But who am I to second-guess Martin Scorsese? Martin Scorsese has been justifiably labeled 'America's best director' and with "Gangs of New York," Scorsese shows his love of our history, his unparalleled skill at telling a story, and his moxey at dealing with a subject matter that resides outside the edges of the norm. . visually commanding, " ;Gangs of New York& quot; succeeds because of Scorsese's determination to pay tribute to New York& apos;s brutal and chaotic. uprisings and the 1863 Civil War Draft Riots, " ;Gangs of New York& quot; paints a gritty picture of the struggle for freedom, dignity and the right to