10 even though Cameron Diaz messes it up

Rating: 10/10 (28 December 2002)

This historical event should pick something up at Oscar night. Violence does play a big part of the movie, and it should, that's the way things were back then and still are today in other parts of the world, just look at the news. Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting is just plain excellent, as always. DeCaprio, never been a big fan, is finally evolving into a serious actor and demonstrates it in this movie.
Cameron Diaz should go back to the "Look at me" movies, this is not the type of flick she should be offered. I kept waiting for her to appear in short pants, messed up hair and swinging a round house kick. The film is just too serious in it's historical value for this actress. Well Scorsese is not perfect, I guess!
The film is fast and furious and depicts, from what we know, the real life of that period. The gangs made New York what it is and Scorsese puts in on canvas for all the see. He does not hold back, so beware, this film is not for the Disney or Lords of the Ring fans, this is not a fairy tale but the brutal raw truth of how it was.
Violence was a daily thing and control was the ultimate prize. Traditions were defended with pride, honor and blood and surviving one more day in the streets of Manhattan without being stabbed, shot, hung or all of the above was a feat in itself.

Kalpoon