Impressive Scorsese epic marred by excessive bloodlust...

Rating: Null/10 (26 July 2003)

Production-wise this is a richly produced epic of old New York focusing on gang rivalry in lower Manhattan circa 1860s, and the production values can't be faulted. Photography is expertly crafted, the main performance by Daniel Day-Lewis is excellent (as a bloodthirsty villain called Billy the Butcher), and it is obvious that a great deal of research and historical detail was done to give credence to the story.
Having said all that, the story could have been trimmed by at least an hour with some of the most graphic battle footage eliminated--and the effect would have been only slightly less startling. But Martin Scorsese has chosen to give the story a three hour running time to tell what is basically a tale of revenge that did not have to be amplified to include all of the bloated footage left in the final cut.
It's clearly a film of murderous excesses and I can understand why the Academy chose not to give it the Best Picture Oscar.
Daniel Day-Lewis is mesmerizing in his intense portrayal of The Butcher. Cameron Diaz as the "heroine" seems to have a modern day look no matter what period she's supposed to be emoting in--and Leonardo DiCaprio is only semi-successful in his approach to the role of the avenging son of Liam Neeson. His accent comes and goes with each scene and is especially "gone" whenever he narrates parts of the tale. Both he and Diaz are clearly more at home in modern roles. Additionally, a more rugged looking actor would have suited the role better.
But, as stated before, the main flaw is the excessive butchery which is bad enough in the opening scene where DiCaprio's father is dispensed with by the Butcher. After that, every so often, the camera lovingly captures scenes of mutilation and killing, lovingly capturing every thrust of a knife. For a film of three hours length, it is all too much.
Most of the performances surrounding the leads are excellent but one in particular stands out--Henry Thomas as Johnny Sirocco who meets a cruel death in the hands of The Butcher. It's hard to believe this is the same "little boy" from E.T. He's excellent all the way through and should be commanding the screen in leading roles.
Summing up: What could have been a great film is marred by excessive violence. There is indeed still such a thing as "overkill" and it's too bad Martin Scorsese never gets the message.