Scorcese's best for years, maybe his best ever?

Rating: 10/10 (11 January 2003)

This is a bit of a masterpiece. I was blown away. Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing and the direction is stunning. The film is so ballsy I can't believe it got made by a major studio in this day and age. 'Gangs' is a great American film in the tradition of the best films of the seventies, including of course Scorcese's most famous work. It may not be to everyone's taste - it is a period drama, it is very bloody and violent, and in many ways it rips apart the idealised past America holds for itself. But go and see it and make up your own mind. As a piece of filmaking, it is unrivalled in contemporary America. If the Academy has any guts, Scorcese will get his due, as will Day-Lewis for Best Actor, not Best Supporting Actor. He steals the show.