real cinema

Rating: 10/10 (15 January 2003)

I cannot believe Scorcese has not been honored with a best director oscar. He deserves it. Forget about taking away Costner's, give him Spielberg's. I think DiCaprio took a big chance working with Day-Lewis and Neeson. He still has to grow as an actor, and does not disappear into characters like the great ones do. (and I wonder how the Irish rate the coming and goings of his tepid brogue, which at best I'd say is better than Mickey Rourke managed in Prayer for the Dying.) As for the twin towers, seeing the image of them at all, anywhere, unexpectedly brings tears to my eyes. It has nothing to do with the movie. I thank god for directors like Martin Scorcese, who don't just put out cash factory films, but give me cinema. He is one of the great ones. He doesn't try to simplify things, just keep all the necessary facts and images in their places. A real story teller, not social messenger. I don't go to movies often, and I had a choice between Gangs, Rings, and 25th Hour, and I bet on Scorcese. When you're not sure what movie to see, you have to choose the best director. I must say I was waiting to see if Harvey Keitel would be in some shadowy corner of the Schermerhorn billiard room, and think that Poe ringer was coolly played. All in all, except for DiCaprio being less than shimmering and Diaz looking less than Irish, I give it a 10, and a $10 as I'll go see it again before it leaves theatres. I wish the box office figures were weighted. At 3 hours, it just can't be shown as often or on as many screens as its competition. It deserves to be higher, but I imagine a lot of people must have to pass up seeing a film if their only options are 6:45 and 10:00 pm showings. I had to travel 25 miles to catch an 8:30 show. Anyway, great film.