Could have been WAY better

Rating: 8/10 (4 January 2003)

*Possible Spoilers* This film had so much promise to it, but some questionable casting and a needless ending put a stop to that. The story here is Daniel Day Lewis as Bill the Butcher, stealing every scene he is in. He walks the walk, he talks the talk. He makes everyone around him pale in comparison, especially Leonardo DiCaprio. For this reason, I did not believe he was a street thief for a minute, nor would he have been able to walk alongside The Butcher. You can tell from his first fight scene with Bill's henchman that he had no inkling how to put up his fists. Scorsese's usual magical camera seemed to be missing in action, for he decided to let the script tell the story. The screenplay was passable, but it makes me wonder why every script writer in Hollywood has to throw a romantic interest in everything they write. And don't get me started on that horrible CGI ending. There was no need to explain the impact of those times on modern New York. I wished it would have focused more on the political corruption of the time and the religious conflicts between the Catholics and Protestants. I think I am going to see Bloody Sunday for that.