Aweful, shamefully aweful!

Rating: 1/10 (13 January 2003)

Gangs Of New York is an atrocious misstep all the way through. I really wanted to enjoy this film. I know its dividing audiences across the country as to its true merit, but I wanted to be on the positive end of the spectrum. I felt that if this film were successful film making it would be a great step in the artistry of modern cinema, not to mention a great case for truth in director's vision. What results is a film so terrible words cannot describe it. Leonardo Dicaprio once again delivers a predictable performance, Cameron Diaz cannot figure out if she's an Irish immigrant or a dumb blonde from Hollywood. Neither of these two actors can maintain their accents; they drift in and out from one line to the next. The battle sequences are so poorly conceived and laughable in their executions. Its ridiculously obvious that the 100's of extras have no idea of what to be doing. The script is an absolute disaster. It introduces new and unnecessary characters with only 5 minutes remaining. Not to mention plot points are consistently started, yet never resolved. Character development is nil. Symbolism: predictable and laughable. The final sequence where we zoom into a The Butcher's glass eye and its revealed that its an eagle was trite and clichéd. IN the end, the only redeeming factor of the film is Daniel Day Lewis. He gives Bill the Butcher, depth and comic verve that insert much needed life into the proceedings. Whenever his character's is on screen his completely steals the film. Perhaps this makes the film all the more terrible. If only his brilliant performance was in a film more deserving of it. Martin Scorcese, you haven't just created a blunder, bad a travesty to cinema and an injustice to the history and citizens of New York. Shame on you!