Unevenly directed, but excellent Daniel Day-Lewis

Rating: Null/10 (19 January 2009)

This is a film that I initially disliked, but came around to liking on my second viewing. It still has some problems including overlength, an uneven tone and some middling acting by Leo and Cameron, but there is a brilliant performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. He is awe-inspiring as 'Bill the Butcher', a satanic villain who dominates the entire film. Leo fares badly specially when compared to DDL and this hurts the film. The film is almost vaudeville-like in its depiction of New York, and suggests the city is a veritable cesspool of crime and corruption. Its VERY violent (something which turned me off on the first viewing), and there are some shocking scenes, so viewers beware!
Overall 7/10