A masterpiece of semi-fictional history

Rating: 9/10 (25 December 2002)

It saddens me that some younger audience members who went to see Gangs of New York have short attention span - constantly fiddling, twentysomething couples making out and getting up in the middle of the movie for restrooms and refreshments. This movie, despite starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is NOT similar to Titanic, another semi-historical fiction film. Both movies are different and unique. Scorsese's vision is far more terrifyingly realistic and violent than Cameron's vision of historical tragedy and doomed romance.

That said, Gangs of New York does have its share of flaws - just like Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line which is one of my favorite films - but frankly who cares about what the majority of film critics have to complain that this film is the best of the best in Scorsese's career on par with good but overrated films Raging Bull and Goodfellas? For the record, my favorite movies directed by Scorsese are Taxi Driver and the criminally underrated The King of Comedy. As a matter of fact, Gangs of New York is Scorsese's best film yet in my humble opinion.
Admittedly dissecting the films looking for flaws is my thing but I will make exception to Gangs of New York because it packs an emotional and visceral wallop courtesy of the universally perfect production design, costuming, cinematography, music and sound effects. I won't comment on Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz's acting, as they served the story adequately, but Daniel Day Lewis' performance as Bill the Butcher truly stands out as one of the most realistic and complex villains ever depicted in the history of film. Nothing will beat Daniel's tour de force role as a ruthlessly evil and racist anti-immigrant leader for years to come because Daniel literally gets into the character without the usual over-the-top sneering, sniveling, cackling and common wicked expressions that stereotypical movie bad guys have.
I have read Herbert Asbury's book and the film have met and even exceeded my expectation. I could go on writing about the film adaption of Gangs of New York, but I simply don't have the time nor the mental effort to write a lengthy review dissecting the film. Scorsese's vision would be a fully realized masterpiece with little or no discernable flaws if he had been given the final cut option from Miramax under Harvey Weinstein, but I won't argue that the theatrical cut of Gangs of New York is his director's cut - there won't be an extended film at all and I respect Scorsese's decision after going through the torturous editing process and meeting the deadline.
Martin Scorsese, Daniel Day Lewis, the screenwriters and the production crew will most certainly earn their just acclaim come Oscar award time after having Scorsese left humiliated one too many times in losing streak.