One incredible film!

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2003)

If there was ever a doubt of Scorsese's talent and storytelling ability this film puts those doubts to rest. It is obvious from the first scene and the first line all the way through to the ending credits that Scorsese put every fiber of his being into the telling of this epic story of crime, politics, social class, poverty, and gangwarfare set in New York City in the midsts of the turmoil of the Civil War. The shadow of this grand historic event looms above the entire film, but the real story is told in the relatively small area of the Five Points slums and alleys where our characters live and die by ancient codes and rules that few outsiders would ever understand.
But Scorsese's will and talent is also backed up by an amazing cast of characters who give the characters a life and authenticity deserving of such a hallmark film. DiCaprio proves once again that he is a great actor as he takes us through all the actions and emotions of a young Irish hoodlum seeking revenge against his father's killer who takes him under his wing as a surrogate son. Truly one of DiCaprio's finest work in his young career but yes, what you heard is true, Daniel Day Lewis simply overshadows all with his brilliant performance in this film. His portrait of the neighborhood crime lord and local butcher is stunning and is the absolute best reason to watch this movie again and again. If ever there was a performance worthy of an Oscar, surely this must be it.
In the end Gangs of New York is really a timeless story set in a certain historical time and place. And I'm sure for most regular audiences it maybe hard to imagine that these people, places, and events could have ever been a part of real life in America. But not only is this an accurate picture of life in America of the past but in many ways America is still this way, people just choose to ignore those aspects as they have chosen to since well before 1846. Luckily for us we have a director like Scorsese with the guts to actually tell the story of the countless millions who have survived, lived, and rose above the worst of America's filth and poverty. This is one movie you simply cannot miss, go to the theater now!