OLD SCHOOL REAL "MEAN STREETS" CIRCA 1863

Rating: Null/10 (23 December 2002)

GANGS OF NEW YORK (2002) **** Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Henry Thomas, David Hemmings. Martin Scorsese's miraculous epic undertaking of the true life accounts of how old New York survived its initial beginnings of gangs of ethnic and social class distinctions with the brutal, blood-soaked tale of a young man (DiCaprio) seeking the redemption of the vicious slaying of his father (Neeson) at the hands of the truly villainous Bill The Butcher (Day Â–Lewis in a ferocious, uncanny resemblance to De Niro, turn worthy of many accolades and awards; one of his best) in his attempts to thwart the corrupt politicos like Boss Tweed (Broadbent) by usurping the police and the destruction of the immigrant element (read: the Irish) in his misanthropic patriotism run amok circa 1863. A classic in the making in its breadth (Scorsese went to Italy and had a practical city built from scratch thanks to production designing genius Dante Ferretti, wonderful cinematography by Michael Ballhaus and impeccably timed editing by vet Thelma Schoonmaker help create a unique look at 19th century history untold. One of the best films of the year and a career achievement/undertaking by Scorsese.