An Important movie in dangerous Time

Rating: 8/10 (17 April 2003)

Always there are important movies, movies that we approach with a sense of deep thinking and wondering what is the message beyond it , fortunately (Gangs of NewYork) is one of those movies. As a fan of scorsese's movies, i have always liked his ideas and perception about NewYork city , he seems not considering NYC only as a location of many of his movies , but as a living entity , entity that has dreams,fears and hopes , an entity with past,present and a future, and as we have seen NYC during the seventies and eighties as filmed in his movies , why not take a look at the past of the city?
The movie's opening battle between the irish leaded by Priest Falon(Liam Nesson) and the American natives leaded by Bill the Butcher(Daniel Day Lewis) , the battle scene was one of the most breathtaking moments of the film , it introduced us to NYC in this dark age , with every blood that is shed and every limp that is chopped we become more and more prepared for the incoming viloence throughout the movie , and as the little Di caprio watches his Dad gets killed by the hands of the Butcher he tries to run away but he is captured by the gang's members and sent to a prison like asylum , where he spends 16 years till he is being released , and get back the city to seek revenge agains Bill the Butcher. may leads you
To consider this movie a revenge movie is sort of misjudgement , the revenge story is running alongside the real story , the story of NYC itself , how it was evolved , how it was built on lakes and lakes of fire and blood , and as the movie goes on you you become more and more engaged into what Scorsese is intending to do , the analysing of the present based on the past.
Daniel Day Lewis is magnificent in every aspect , great performance that captures you from the very first scene you see him , and that may leads you to miss him during the scenes where he is not present , and i think he should(And must)Have got the Academy award for his performance , and actually he deserve it . Leonardo Di caprio did a good role , although i have seen a better performance from him in (catch me if you can) , but may be the shining of Day Lewis was overwhelming and that may affected his performance. Cameron Diaz was very charming in the her role , and that's an extending for her good performances during the past period like her role in (Vannila Sky).
Martin Scorsese did a very good job , he is a master as usual , and his vision for NYC in the 19 th century was surprising in every sort of the way , and very convincing aslo , you get the messages beyond the movie easily , although it needs some thinking to get the full message , and the rhythm of the movie was good in general , although i think that some parts needed to be faster , but that may be due The carness from Scorsese to build his charachters carefully and accurately , so you can accept the moves of the characters without inquiring why this or that has happened , and that's of cource is an important corner of directing a good movie.
Gangs of NewYork may not be the best movie directed by Scorsese , but sure it's one of the best in his career and one of the best movies of 2002 or 2003 (depends on the release date in your country) .