I know it's gonna seems strange to some of you, but I REALLY needed to write a few words about this film I've seen... many times, that was released in 2002, the famous (or not?) GANGS OF NEW YORK directed by the famous (of that, I'm sure) Martin Scorsese.
(If you've not seen his films, please do, because most of them are masterpieces, I'll make sure to write a short list of my favorites at the end of this article.) Scorsese had wanted to make this film since the 70s, but due to money issues, he had to wait until the late 90s to start shooting - but that also gave him the great cast he has, meaning Day-Lewis, whom I simply adore, and DiCaprio, brilliant and tense.
One of my friends, A, who happens to be a movie addict just like me, told me that she hadn't seen this film because a lot of people around her had told her that it wasn't worth seeing. Let me say that I am very upset with these people. GANGS OF NEW YORK is carnal, epic, astonishing, beautiful, melancholic, powerful, and most of all, alive. This historical movie - I want to say that it's Scorsese second attempt as the first one, with Day-Lewis too, was THE AGE OF INNOCNECE - has all the assets to be great : perfect action, cinematography, music, set, costumes, love story, moral and characters. If its length frightens you (2h46), let me say that you don't see the time - it flies.
Just a quick plot, so you can know more - but not too much - about the story (thank you IMDb):
In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill The Butcher, his father's killer.
You see the city build itself, with its melting plot, its colors, its violence, it eccentricity. And it's a true pleasure.
MJ.
(List of films - only some - : Taxi Driver, Who's That Knocking At My Door, The Departed, Good Fellas, New York, New York, Mean Streets, The Age of Innocence)
Here is also one of his shorts, called THE BIG SHAVE:
