Bloody, Brawling Epic.

Rating: 7/10 (22 December 2002)

I really do admire this film but I didn't love it. It's so impressive looking and Martin Scorsese filmed it in Italy at the legendary Cinecittia Studios and the "Making Of" will probably be more interesting than the film itself. Daniel Day Lewis as Bill saves the film for me, his performance really dominates the film and he should get an Oscar nomination for it. Leonardo DiCaprio is fine but I don't think he's very memorable. Cameron Diaz added nothing to the film and is cast just to be "The Girl". I think the main flaw in the film is that Scorsese throws to much into the script with draft rioting, race wars, crooked politicians, people revolting against the abolition of slavery, the war, the army brought in to fight the rioters, war between the classes. There is so much going on that the final half hour becomes chaotic and the main story between Dicaprio and Lewis almost becomes a side story and gets swamped. But I do recommend this film highly mainly for the incredible sets that were built and of course for the performance of Lewis. The film also reminds us of an ugly but important part of our history. Story is flawed but its still an impressive epic.