A huge disappointment

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 2003)

Gangs of New York, hyped as one of the best Scorsese movies ever, was a huge disappointment for me. First reason: the story is a clichÃ©: good guys vs bad guys. The good guys have noting bad, the bad guys have nothing good. Second reason: 19th century New York looks as if it were a movie set. Of course, it is, but it shouldn't show. And all those candles that give the movie such a nice old-fashioned, warm look! Third reason: too much sidelines in the script. The love story with Cameron Diaz is unrealistic (Vallon doesn't want her because she loved his father's killer. So how come they're in bed together a few minutes later?) and was probably added strictly for commercial reasons.Daniel Day-Lewis's acting is great, but that's about it.