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Gangs of New York Sometimes, a movie just seems to carry a curse on it. Waterworld was plagued by an escalating budget and a storm that destroyed crucial sets. Pluto Nash blew tons of money (over $100 million) and only made about $10 million. And let's not forget Ishtar (although we all want to). As you can imagine, when Gangs of New York was delayed last year, it seemed to be heading into Ishtar territory. Director Martin Scorsese has been trying to make this film for 20 years. Every studio in town turned him down, but he never gave up the dream. Finally, Miramax picked it up, but the trouble didn't end there. Studio prez Harvey Weinstein and Scorsese supposedly battled over the budget. Then, the costs kept going up as Scorsese wanted to shoot more scenes. Then, it's release was delayed from Christmas 2001 because Miramax and Scorsese didn't want to release a movie portraying a great deal of violence and racial strife in New York City so soon after the attacks of September 11. Or, maybe Scorsese wasn't done. Then, Miramax and DreamWorks both had Leonardo DiCaprio films scheduled for release on Christmas day, and Miramax had to move this one to the crowded December 20 date. Are you getting the picture? Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Amsterdam - the son of a respected Irish immigrant leader in 1846. His father is the leader of an Irish gang battling for the right to be left alone against a group of non-immigrant Nativists who believe their jobs and livelihoods are threatened by the immigrants. Amsterdam's father is killed by the Nativist leader, Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), and young Amsterdam vows to get revenge one day. Sixteen years later, he returns to the place of his father's death to find a very changed world. The Five Points area of NY is still the worst slum in the country, but the Nativists have driven the immigrant gangs into a position of subservience. Now, with more immigrants arriving by the day, Amsterdam feels he can finally get his revenge. Will Amsterdam kill Bill the Butcher? Gangs of New York certainly is not a failure, but it is not a stunning achievement either. On the positive side, the film features Oscar-worthy art direction and costuming. The sets are amazingly realistic and stunningly stark and impoverished. It's the kind of look that is hard to achieve with a computer, especially with the type of camera work employed by Scorsese. He takes you through the slums in a way that helps the audience understand the conditions faced by the people in Five Points, and describes the characters in ways that dialogue cannot. However, the story itself needs help. It starts strong, but slowly deteriorates as the movie unfolds. At the heart of the screenplay is the personal battle between Bill and Amsterdam, but it is often pushed aside by Scorsese as he tries to fill in many historical facts and incidents that aren't necessary. While I love history and feel that this is an interesting period to learn about, it only lengthens the movie and doesn't help us understand the main plot - the battle between two men. Also, Scorsese and the writers make a critical mistake by adding 40 minutes to the film that aren't needed. Gangs of New York has a natural climax and dramatic moment at the two hour mark, but Scorsese tries to wrap his version of the climax within a historical moment that doesn't yield the desired dramatic effect. It also leads to a disappointing ending. The actors in the film also meet with mixed results. Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing as the animalistic, yet refined leader of the Nativists. He puts on a heavy New York accent that sounds more modern than one would think, but one that was studied to be realistic for the time, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He is able to scare the audience with his tendency for violence, show the character's oddly charismatic personality, and even get us to like him just a little bit as he talks about his struggle. It's a complex, interesting character that can only be played by a strong actor such as he. The other two leads could have learned something from him. While DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz (who plays a pickpocket, Jenny) are not bad, they aren't amazing or very good either, which fits with the rest of the movie's performance. DiCaprio does not match the vibrant, energetic performance of Daniel Day-Lewis. He comes off like a stone next to the great actor. While it isn't a horrible performance, it is one that calls for more passion, more energy and more life! A man seeking the ultimate revenge should be smoldering and bitter. Often, DiCaprio just comes off as bored. Diaz is no great shakes either. While she delivers a competent performance, it is not one that stands out or justifies the presence of someone who is considered a major star. She gets to do some steamy scenes with Leo, and trots out a decent Irish-type brogue, but Diaz should choose something more challenging if she is trying to prove herself.
It's an average movie that shows signs of greatness, but it fails due to
a horrible plot choice that leaves you wanting a better ending.
Copyright 2002 - WaffleMovies.com
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