A welcome return of quality film making to our Cinema houses

Rating: 9/10 (14 January 2003)

Scorsese' lastest offering 'Gangs of New York' is a triumph of good quaility film making, not story telling, but film making. The films tags line 'America was born in these streets' suggest that the gang warfare of the mid to late 19th century, played a massive role in forming the America we all know today. Interesting in its dealing intially with the immigrants arrivial, the film then reminds us all of its Hollywood not New York orgins with the story of the 5 points. An area of American history only brought to the forefront now because of its potential to become a screenplay.
Don't get me wrong i really enjoyed the film i just have a problem with the films billing as a reflection of a birth of a nation through the 5 points. If the '5 points' were of such historical importance why is not studyied in schools because after all ' New York is the modern day Rome' (John Lennon)and surely such an infamous birth of the city needs widespeard attention.

I would like to suggest that this film could be sighted as a post september 11th film. A film which depicts America standing strong in the face of adversity, the final montage of the Manhattan district growing cemented this view point for me. I mention must be made to the inclusion of the World Trade Centre in the final/ most recent shot of the Manhattan skyline, i beieve this to be the prime example of America standing strong.

Gangs of New York is a brilliantly made epic, the sound recording, the cinematograph must be acknowleded by the Academy. As well as the truely mesmorizing performance of Daniel Day-Lewis. Scorsese' direction also desevses much credit, he brings back to our cinema houses a production ethic that is sorely missed (especially in todays 'comic action hero' culture. This film is also Scorsese' homage to Sergi Eisenstein work especailly 'The Battleship Potemkin'
I'll going now to watch 'Gangs of New York' again!!!!!!!!!!! Bye