Great Film: Gangs of New York
Terrific Entertainment!
Gangs of New York is just perfect entertainment. It is an enthralling,
bloody, melodramatic epic that more than justifies its two and one half hour
running time. In Gangs director Martin Scorsese spins another tale of the
New York underworld but with a twist. Instead of the mid-twentieth century
organized crime milieu of Goodfellas, Scorsese ventures back to the 19th
century to show us the origin of the modern street gang.
It's the early 1860s and the notorious Five Points slum is ruled by the
savage `Bill the Butcher'. The viciously nationalistic Bill terrorizes all
the immigrant masses jammed into his slum but seems to harbor a particular
hatred for the Irish population. Into this seething cauldron wanders
mysterious young Amsterdam Vallon who soon works his way into the trust and
affection of Bloody Bill. Amsterdam, however, has a past with the
unsuspecting Butcher and sports an agenda not unlike a certain Prince of
Denmark. Bloody vengeance and dark betrayal soon come to pass, all played
against a backdrop of corruption and unrest that lead to up to the horrors
of New York Civil War draft riots.
Daniel Day-Lewis is marvelous as Bill the Butcher. His Bill is both
recognizably human and a full bore, moustache-twirling villain. Day-Lewis
strides his savage and profane way across the screen and steals the whole of
the movie. The only other actor to approach Day-Lewis' level is Jim
Broadbent as William 'Boss' Tweed. Broadbent is Tweed's spitting image and
he makes the grasping old pirate so winning we find ourselves rooting for
Tweed against the gaggle of reformers that infest his domain. Though
Leonardo DiCaprio is the nominal lead of the picture he is overshadowed by
his co-stars. Large, slope shouldered and vaguely brutish looking, DiCaprio
is physically perfect for Amsterdam. While he could have used some of the
fire and rage of a young James Cagney, DiCaprio's acting is superior
throughout the movie. The problem is that Amsterdam just isn't as flashy a
role as Bill or Tweed and, as good as DiCaprio is; Day-Lewis operates on a
whole other level. Cameron Diaz as the beautiful pickpocket Jenny, never
convinces that she is a product of the slums. Despite having considerable
screen time, Diaz fades into the background when compared to her more
powerful co-stars.
Just as important as the actors are to Gangs is the period atmosphere that
drips off the screen. The amazing old New York set has an air of lived in
reality that you could cut with a knife. You can almost smell the vermin.
Gangs is entirely free of the embalmed feeling you get from most modern
period movies. The cast handles the period argot as if it were their true
speech and wear their costumes like lived-in clothing. You come away
convinced that this is how the world looked and sounded in 1862.
Scorsese does eschew all nuance and subtlety in Gangs. Instead he tells his
tale in wide, bold, exploitive and melodramatic strokes that make the movies
two and a half hours fly by. Be warned that if you are waiting to see Gangs
on DVD you are making a huge mistake. Gangs has to be seen at the theater.
The detail and scope of the film cries out to be viewed in all its wide
screen glory. This movie is a fantastic achievement.
Cast
- Killoran played by Eddie Marsan
- Jenny Everdeane played by Cameron Diaz
- Boss Tweed played by Jim Broadbent
- 'Priest' Vallon played by Liam Neeson
- Hell-Cat Maggie played by Cara Seymour
- Amsterdam Vallon played by Leonardo Dicaprio
- Happy Jack played by John C. Reilly
