Despite a wonderful performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, the new
film
”
Gangs of New York,
”
currently playing at Premiere Cinemas, does not have much of a
fighting chance to hit it big.
Despite a wonderful performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, the new film “Gangs of New York,” currently playing at Premiere Cinemas, does not have much of a fighting chance to hit it big.
Martin Scorsese, who directed this two-hour and 44-minute film, is a great filmmaker with wonderful productions to his credit – “Goodfellas,” “Raging Bull,” “Mean Streets,” “Taxi Driver” and “Casino.” However, “Gangs of New York” is not one of them.
The problem with Scorsese’s film is not his directing. He obviously went through a lot of effort to recreate the violent and turbulent era of mid-1800s Manhattan.
To give his film added realism and cinematic texture, Scorsese includes a Chinese opera coordinator, a butchering advisor, a man in charge of hand-lettered signs, plus a consultant who taught vintage fighting methods.
All of these details give the viewer a real sense that they’re looking back into what Civil War-era Manhattan really looked liked, how it sounded and what it probably felt like.
Scorsese creates a working waterfront in a 3-million-gallon exterior tank and used more than 40 acres to reconstruct several New York neighborhoods, accurate down to the cobblestones on the streets and the shingles on the roofs.
What fails Scorsese in this movie are some of his actors who just don’t give very good performances.
One of the better performances comes from Laim Neeson as “Priest” Vallon. The only problem is that he dies 10 minutes into the film.
But undoubtedly the best overall performance is by Day-Lewis as the ferocious and blood-thirsty character of Bill “The Butcher” Cutting. The actor reportedly listened to music from rapper Eminem between takes to maintain his almost palpable level of on-screen rage.
Cameron Diaz does a good job as the pickpocket Jenny Everdeane, although I feel her character performance gets lost in the sometimes-convoluted plot.
My big problem with this movie is its primary star – Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon, son of the slain “Priest” Vallon.
In a story line reminiscent of “Hamlet,” Amsterdam witnesses his father being killed at the hands of “The Butcher” as rival gangs – native-born New Yorkers against Irish immigrants – try to find a new life in America.
After being sent away to a reform school, Amsterdam vows to avenge his father’s death. He returns to the crime-ridden Five Points and plots his revenge.
DiCaprio is unbelievable as a tough, cunning young street brawler filled with anger. He seems to sleepwalk through most of this film.
This is not so much a bad movie as one that disappointingly fails to live up to its potential.
This film graphically recreates the violence and brutality of the time with very bloody realism which is sure to be too much for children and probably too much for squeamish adults or those who are faint of heart.
