neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Gangs Of New York
	Martin Scorsese Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Liam Neeson, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Brendan Gleeson, Henry Thomas 2002		Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest directors in American cinema, Martin Scorsese has taken on one of the most challenging projects in his career — a drama set in the notorious New York slum Five Corners during the mid-19th century, when various mobs vied for control and the Civil War raged. Scorsese's "Gangs of New York" is equal parts historical epic, family saga, love story and bloody action flick. By virtue of its scope, its unfamiliar milieu and an astonishing performance by Daniel Day-Lewis as its prime villain, the film earns a recommendation. But its massive reach exceeds its grasp, and the over-stuffed script pitting Evil vs. Lesser Evil leaves "Gangs of New York" short of greatness. Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio), orphaned son of an Irish immigrant leader (Liam Neeson), is secretly the sworn enemy of Bill the Butcher (Day-Lewis), a barbarous thug in charge of the nationalistic gang that rules Five Corners. Insinuating himself into Bill's crew, Amsterdam plots against the Butcher while coveting beautiful pickpocket Jenny (Cameron Diaz) who has sworn allegiance to Bill. Warning: The violence is graphic and plentiful.