Sprawling, beautiful epic

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2002)

Over 20 years in the making, "Gangs Of New York" enters theaters with almost overshadowed by the hype and rumours surrounding the production. From the supposed arguments between director Martin Scorcese and producer Harvey Weinstein; Leonardo DiCaprio's apparent off camera antics that slowed production and Daniel Day-Lewis' complete immersion in the role. When the release date was pushed back twice things did not look good, however, I am pleased to write that "Gangs Of New York" is not only Scorcese's best film since "GoodFellas", but ranks among his best work ever.
The film starts with a nice cameo role by Liam Neeson, as young Amsterdam's (DiCaprio) father, getting his Irish gang ready to battle William Cutting (Day- Lewis) and his gang of "natives" for control of Five Points an area that in the mid-1800s has become a cauldron of immigrants all claiming their right to the land. There are no guns, just blades, not shiny and new, but sharp and steady with age, and soon the white snow is red with blood and Amsterdam's father is dead before his eyes at the hands of William "Bill The Butcher" Cutting.
Fast forward sixteen years and Amsterdam is out of reform school, unrecognizable with a settle to score. Five Points is not the neighbourhood it was as it is now under the fist of Bill the Butcher, who for lack of a better word, is early kind of mob leader. Every grift, hustle, whore and score sees a payment go into his pocket. However, as the occupants of Five Points battle each other,
America is preparing to go to war with itself, drafting immigrants as they come off the boat (all told in a truly remarkable sequence).
As Amsterdam learns the ways of Five Points, he joins Bill the Butcher's fold, at first to seek his revenge, however, not recognizing the older Amsterdam, Bill takes him under his wing and he is soon taken by the easy influence, power and money at his command. The closer he gets, the more conflicted he becomes, and equally, Bill is seeing the world around him change. No longer can brute force rule, but votes are now becoming harder than bullets and his allegiances with the powers-that-be, who once turned the other way to his indiscretions, are now at jeopardy.
"Gangs of New York" is a near perfect film, moving from the microscopic view of a neighbourhood to a wider scope of a nation on the brink of war. The performances are great and Daniel Day-Lewis is spectacular as Bill the Butcher, and he will doubt garner Oscar attention. However, it is flawed. Cameron Diaz's character, who's heart has the eyes of no less than three men, is not given enough screen time and there is even more we wish to know about Bill the Butcher, perhaps more of a backstory to account for his motivations.
Scorcese's ambition and assuredness behind the camera makes these flaws quickly disappear. There is so much contained in here - from the lush costume detail to the street vernacular of 1800s New York - you wish the film, despite it's three hour running time, would keep going. This is a world one wishes to linger in just a bit longer. Much has been made of the editing of this film, some saying that is what sparked disagreements between Scorcese and Weinstein.
Whatever the case, Scorcese has said there will not be a director's cut DVD, but here's hoping he reconsiders.
10/10