Martin Scorsese Makes Crime Pay

Rating: 6/10 (23 May 2009)

In the bloody backdrop of 19th century gang wars, Leonardo DiCaprio (as Amsterdam Vallon) seeks revenge against dastardly Daniel Day-Lewis (as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting), who killed his father. As a boy, Mr. DiCaprio witnessed his father being murdered by Mr. Day-Lewis. After fifteen or sixteen years, DiCaprio returns to New York City's "Five Points" neighborhood, and infiltrates Day-Lewis's organization, actually becoming Day-Lewis' apprentice. While waiting to avenge his father's death, DiCaprio falls in love with slutty pickpocket Cameron Diaz (Jenny Everdeane), who counts Day-Lewis among her bed partners.
The DVD sleeve reminds, "This motion picture event from acclaimed director Martin Scorsese earned 10 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor, along with 5 Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Song! Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day-Lewis star in this epic tale of vengeance and survival!" Only one of those nominations resulted in an award; Mr. Scorsese got a "Golden Globe" for directing. But, Day-Lewis's barnstorming supporting role won several other "Best Actor" awards.
Scorsese's well-produced (and very brightly lighted) picture's theme really comes into focus during the last few minutes - that the immigrant "Gangs of New York" were the foundations of Manhattan, New York, and (by extension) the United States. Or, "America was born in the streets." The ending is where the film is at its most powerful.
Before that, the movie is about DiCaprio's "Amsterdam" and how his priestly father was replaced by Day-Lewis' "Butcher", during an orgy of violence. With his knife, Day-Lewis has "intercourse" with the priest. He hangs is picture, and adoringly recalls, "He was the only man I ever killed worth remembering." Although he adds, "I never had a son," Day-Lewis does treat DiCaprio like his "born" son. Many other interesting characters appear during the long running time, but they aren't developed enough to give "Gangs of New York" the epic sweep so obviously intended.
****** Gangs of New York (12/9/02) Martin Scorsese ~ Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, John C. Reilly