Martin Scorsese OK Film

Rating: 6/10 (23 October 2006)

Martin Scorsese has done some great films, but this one comes off as just OK. It is not from a lack of trying as the visuals in this film are quite rich & evocative. The action sequences are pretty well done too. Martin Scorsese's biggest problem in this film is the acting. Leonardo DiCaprio performance in this film shows he is still trying to mature as an actor. He walks through this film without putting much effort into it in spite of all the folks around him. Hopefully, after doing this film & CATCH ME IF YOU CAN with Spielberg, the learning will help him as his acting is flat in that movie as well.
Cameron Diaz is in this film pretty much as eye candy but is really not given enough of a role that she will be remembered for this one.
Daniel Day-Lewis alias "The Butcher" in this film really gets the best role & steals the film from everyone else. With all the action & scenery in the movie, there really isn't a lot to steal, but (if you pardon the pun), "The Butcher" to me gets the meat of the acting in this script.
At 167 minutes this film runs pretty long, mostly because of the long action sequences, & it could be made shorter as some of the sequences drag all too long, but even if it were shorter, it would not really improve the film.
This is a good film, but not a film that will be remembered other than as one of Directors Martin Scorsese film more than anything else. Well made but average for a director who has done better than this one.