Scorsese's most accomplished film since Taxi Driver. An instant classic!

Rating: 10/10 (25 December 2002)

Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest filmmakers of our time. His films have had an immense impact on cinema due to their sheer brilliance. Let me start by sharing my view towards his films. My top five Scorsese pictures are as follows. 1.Taxi Driver, 2.Raging Bull, 3.Casino, 4.Bringing out the Dead, &
5.Goodfellas. Some agree with this list, some don't. Gangs of New York has finally been released. I saw this film opening night at the lovely Grove theatre with a sold out audience. It has taken five days to form a solid review. The first thing that must be said is that this film is MORE THAN JUST THE BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR, IT"S ONE OF THE GREATEST EPIC'S OF OUR TIME. This is a film of much importance to anyone who cares about cinema. Scorsese and his team have created a fascinating story of a time and place in American history, told through a masterfully constructed plot of revenge. This is the story of the five points, a place long forgotten in New York history.
I'm going to skip any further details of the story, most of you know this already. This film is historical. This is cinema at its finest. For me, Gangs of New York is a masterpiece that will live forever. Every frame that was seen will never be forgotten. This is carved in my memory forever, it is that good. Leonardo DiCaprio is a brilliant actor. Forget what you've seen from him, it's nothing compared to this. Amsterdam Vallon is on the screen the entire time. Not once did I see DiCaprio, this performance is seamless.
It's time for Oscar to come his way. Many people might not think it's that good,...I do. The balance between subtle touches and complete rage is quite impressive. I respect DiCaprio as an actor and suggest you do as well. Daniel Day-Lewis, well,......holy god! Bill the Butcher is one of the greatest characters of all time. This role makes it clear that Daniel Day-Lewis is on par with Robert De Niro. This is flawless. Cameron Diaz is the pleasant surprise of this film. I knew she was talented, but this truly shows her range. I loved this character. The supporting cast is perfect. From John C. Reily to the brilliant Liam Neeson. This is a film with amazing power. Every sequence is important, always presenting cinematic art. (Minor Spoilers)
Watch for the growing relationship between Amsterdam and the Butcher. A great scene with Bill wearing an American flag, the entire sequence when Bill discovers Amsterdam's plot, a great love scene with Amsterdam and Jenny, and the incredible finale. These are a few scenes of the many. This is what makes this film so special. I'm going to wrap this up. Now that this film is here, Scorsese proves his genius is still alive and well. Forget the few mixed/negative reviews. I don't understand it. They don't appreciate important films when released. However, in ten or twenty years, watch their opinions change. My top five Scorsese > films have changed now. I can't say this is better than Taxi Driver or Raging Bull, but I simply love it more. I will watch this film more than those two. It has had a greater impact on me than those films, which is saying a lot. Gangs of New York is special. No matter how you view his films, IT"S ONE OF HIS VERY BEST & MY PERSONAL FAVORITE. I hope this gets the awards it deserves.