A Scorsese classic

Rating: Null/10 (4 July 2005)

Time will prove Gangs of New York to be an exhalted classic.
The first time I saw it in theatres (Christmas 2002) I admired the spectacle but the story left me cold. It wasn't until I started watching the DVD that it sunk in how grand and beautiful this film is.
The production design is stellar. No one can say the film doesn't look authentic (New York 1860's). From the glorious costumes and sets to the extremely evocative music, Scorsese has re-defined verisimilitude. Check out the featurettes on the DVD re: set design and costumes. Your jaw will drop at the scale and scope of Martins' vision.
But to the most important of matters: STORY. This is American history, or to be specific: New York City history. One viewing will not suffice. This film demands your attention, and discerning film buffs should be enthralled that a film of this type has been made. (So many movies today lack passion and power. God bless the master Scorsese).
We are taken to The Five Points, a slummy area of New York. Immigrants are flooding in, coming off ships from Ireland & Europe, and the "Natives" are quite upset that their "chosen ground" has been polluted with people who were not "born right-wise". The climate is so ominous and poverty-stricken and gritty, that just about anything goes. In Scorsese's movie we see just what it was like in those insane days of war & corruption and new beginnings.
You have gangs who capitalize on the social scene (if that's a proper phrase), you have Boss Tweed ripping everything off, you have the civil war, you have an anti-immigrant butcher (who also runs a fire hall) creating and maintaining fear of loss of his countries' identity, and you have a spirited son of a Priest who lays to rest "his father's ghost".
Masterpiece. The film is awesomely compelling from start to finish.
The reasons? Director. (Martin Scorsese) Actor. (Daniel-Day Lewis) Photography. (Michael Ballhaus) Set/Production Design (Dante Ferreti) Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker) Music (Robertson, Pook, etc..)
All elements vital to the creation of classic film art.
I could talk about this film for hours, but I'll settle for watching it over and over and over again. It never loses it's power or integrity and I thank the cinema Gods that Scorsese exists. His films have a quality that defies the simple term "movies".
His work is special and for those who know, this film is an "I remember you, New York" from a man who was born there and will probably die there.