disappointing

Rating: Null/10 (24 April 2003)

i thought that this movie actually might be quite interesting. however i was not to much impressed by it. it was too long and boring and the climax wasn't that thrilling eighter. it seems that the only movies scorsesi is capable of doing are those brutal classics like taxi driver, raging bull or goodfellas, but in providing this latest output with a gripping atmosphere he failed in my humble opinion.
some things where especially annoying for me: the music from the first fight in the beginning. those drums and guitars delivered a quite modern atmosphere, which doesn't fit movies like this.
the strange woman with the pointy teeth and steel claws. has almost some kind of cyberpunk appeal.
the black who is in the irish gang. why should he? i guess they put him in there to appeal to todays american audiance. but back then quotas where unknown. they surely didn't think like "hey, we've gotta employ at least one member of an ethnic minority in our gang."
bill cutting was so much over the top, that it got stupid from time to time. day-lewis did a good job in this role, but the character itself was overdone.
well, to sum it up, the movie has some impressive buildings and good acting, but it drags and has some flaws. it might appeal to americans in a way, but the average viewer won't be too impressed, i think.