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Director Martin Scorsese has stated that he has wanted to make this film for the past twenty-five years and after much publicized setbacks - studio arguments, a way over the budget production check and numurous release date push-backs, "Gangs of New York" was finally released in December of 2002. After witnessing the film in theaters for the first time, I must say that I've never wanted to stand up and applaud a film after a viewing as much as I did with this one. Although, possibably a half an hour longer then it needs to be, every shot in this film is pieced together with so much passion, respect and love for the project that we can't do anything but watch the film with amazement. Scorsese directs this film with so much ease that while the film is playing out, we come to fully understand why this guy is the greatest livin' American director working today. We can tell that each shot has been choreographed to death, yet it doesn't ever look overdone, but instead exactly how the shot should look. However, it's not just the shots Scorsese uses, but also the music he chose to bring his story to life. Besides closing the film with U2's beautiful "The Hands That Built America" and filling the entire film with beautiful Irish songs, he also fearlessly uses taboo music selctions like the modern 'techno-ish' track he fills The Battle of 1846 scene with. This is a ballsy move that could have backfired in Scorsese's face, yet he uses it to his and his story's advantage. Although I could go a few more paragraphs about Scorsese's great knack for direction, I'll stop here to say that the performances from the film's key players also makes "Gangs of New York" a remarkable film. Each Irish accent is right on the money and the usually dull Cameron Diaz literally shines as the 'turtle dove' pocket picker Jenny. Of course this film belongs to both Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis, the latter being the one who honestly controls the film. Day-Lewis is just simply amazing as Bill the Butcher, crafting the character just devilish enough for us to despise the man, yet with enough loneliness and regret for us to care for him. His performance is one that seems to come from the depths of his soul which transforms him into Bill the Butcher, while Dicaprio again shows us he is more then just a pretty face but an talent acting force worth watching. "Gangs of New York" is a true masterpiece and worth the 25 year wait. - SCF / January 2003 email this review to a friend
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