A wasted bloodbath.

Rating: 5/10 (17 February 2005)

For a huge fan of Martin Scorsese like yours truly, the let down of Gangs of NY was even bigger. Where is the tight, efficient Scorsese of yore? Where is the primal scream? It looked like a glossy film on an epic canvas, so I had forgiven much on my way in - this was a big canvas painting and even Scorsese might not be as economical and sharp as he's traditionally been.
From conception to execution this film looked to me like an indulgent party, and Daniel Day Lewis was the one who indulged most and came out triumphant, because it worked for Bill the Butcher! As for everyone else, excuses apart, this really was one hashed up lavish ceremonial orgy of film-making at its worst when more money can actually kill the film instead of giving it more options. Di Caprio is his usual self - a kid trying to fit into a man's boots. Cameron Diaz had a part that would have left the film no poorer had it been left out altogether.
The story was over as soon as the revenge seeking son got close to his father's murderer. But the film went on way past that point. It didn't help that I had seen "City of God" in the same week. As if to wash myself off, I saw "City of God" again after this grand Scorsese failure. Enough said.