Maybe not perfect but still an excellent movie

Rating: 9/10 (2 January 2003)

I enjoyed this movie. I did not feel it was too long nor did I feel the violence was gratuitous. But I can see where not everyone will agree about it.
Bill the Butcher is an actor's dream character and Daniel Day Lewis played him brilliantly. I also found the rest of the cast to be just as strong, even if not as colorful or loud. I liked the contrast of the older and loud Bill being opposite of the sullen and silent young character, Amsterdam. And I wasn't surprised that Dicaprio could hold his own in this film. Nor was I surprised that he could shift his character's emotions from one moment wanting the respect of the older Bill to the next moment being filled with anger and disgust at the realization that he had just killed a fellow Irishman. The interaction between these two main characters was the most enjoyable part of the film. And at the same time, you had a great supporting cast surrounding them.
But what excited me most was how much I left the theater eager to discuss the film. When's the last time that has happened? And I don't mean to discuss the music or the camera angles or wether I liked the clothes but rather to discuss the people of the time and what had taken place then. There are so many parallels to today that could be discussed. I think Scorsese did an excellent job. Maybe it's not his finest film of all time but it is definitely a success.