America was born in the streets. And it made a damn good movie.

Rating: Null/10 (22 December 2002)

Martin Scorsese directs one of the year's most compelling films, a historical epic action drama that will likely be a top contender for several Oscars. Leonardo DiCaprio (TITANIC), Daniel Day-Lewis (THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS), Cameron Diaz (SHREK), John C. Reilley (MAGNOLIA), Liam Neeson (THE HAUNTING), and Brendan Gleeson (LAKE PLACID) star with Jim Broadbent and Henry Thomas in GANGS OF NEW YORK. A movie set at the turn of the century during 1862 during the times of the greatest gang warfare, when a young man sets out to seek vengance against the man who killed his father.
The acting is high above average, the direction is splendid and the costume designs are magnificent. I found the film to be enthralling and explosive. I was not expecting an action film when I stepped into the theater. Instead what I got was a war movie. There is a great amount of bloody violence that many people will find too difficult to stomach. I was able to handle it. The violence may be the one thing that might discourage the Academy from giving this film a high number of nominations. Other than that, Martin Scorsese has given a great motion picture too be treasured throughout the years. GANGS OF NEW YORK gets 5/5.