Much better than expected!

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2003)

I'm not a huge fan of Leo DiCaprio, but he does a fine job in this role. Or at least he's quite a bit better here than in Titanic. He did lose his Irish accent on more than one occasion, but it doesn't matter anyway because Daniel Day-Lewis steals the entire movie. Possibly the most ruthless and dishonorable villain to ever grace the screen. I will say that some parts are a bit confusing, but it's a small price to pay to get such a grand spectacle to the big screen. This film has lavish sets and art direction throughout, not to mention terrific costuming and attention to detail. It does feel a bit Hollywoodish at times, but what do you expect when a studio invests this much time and money into a picture? Cameron Diaz is quite a bit better than her normal ditzy blonde persona, and there are many terrific supporting performances, especially by Liam Neeson and John C. Reilly. But if you're squeamish about violence, this is not the movie for you. But for those of us who love our period pieces full of bloody action, it's a fine piece of work.