I know that this film would consider Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead actor but in my mind the real star of this film (and any other film he is in) is Daniel Day-Lewis.

I catch a lot of flak from friends and strangers for being a bit critical of Leo's work. I get it, he is one of the biggest stars of his generation but I'm just not one of those people that thinks he is an incredible actor. I think he is an incredibly marketable actor in the same way that I think Keanu Reeves is marketable. However, as far as raw talent is concerned I think that Daniel Day-Lewis is in an entirely different category of skill.

Onto the story: Gangs of New York is based on fact, but all the characters in the movie are fictional. It deals with (as the name would suggest) the gangs that were struggling for power in a part of New York called "Five Points." One of the gangs is called the Natives and are lead by William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting (played by Lewis) and the other are "the Dead Rabbits who are lead by Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson.) Bill kills Vallon and declares the Dead Rabbits as being banned in the area. Vallon's son witnesses the death of his father and a tale of revenge begins.

"Amsterdam" (DiCaprio) re-emerges onto the scene 16 years later and is hiding his history of being a Vallon. He has to earn the trust of Bill the Butcher in order to infiltrate his ranks. He poses as a recruit and becomes his "right hand man" so to speak.

I will stop there before I spoil the movie.

What makes this movie great is Day-Lewis' performance mostly and also the fact that the scenes are super-high budget and directed by Martin Scorsese - so of course the production value is going to be top-notch. Most of the acting is superb and even though I don't think he is nearly as good as those around him in this movie Leo manages to pull his own weight as well.

The movie is full of action and wonderful costume design. The period accents were meticulously studied and a voice coach was brought in to do the best they could to replicate the sounds of the late 1800's. This can be particularly difficult considering that no one is really all that sure what people sounded like 150 years ago.

Overall this is a beautiful movie with a decent script and excellent directing. IT made close to 90 million dollars and won a few major awards. It was nominated for 10 Oscars, but managed to win none of them. However, at nearly 3 hours long, some would argue that it is too long. I am one of those people.

7.5 / 10

Name: Gangs of New York (film): reasonably fantastic movie with great rewatch value
Item: Gangs of New York
Author: @gooddream

*small reduction for DiCaprio and length*

Comments · 8

@praditya(67)· 2811d

Gangs of Wasseypur ! is also a movie in bollywood. What an irony, How can these guys stole the name and change it a bit from that of Gangs of new york! As the hollywood film was made in 2002 but the bollywood movie came in 2012 Now I need to watch both th movie to find out more similarities!

@aydogdy(58)· 2811d

Of course, the film is tightened, of course, some scenes and frames (such as the one where the Bible is very picturesquely sinking in dark water) are full of excessive pathos. Of course, the plot does not shine with the height of originality, but it is still difficult not to discern the sound work of the director and the smooth, high-quality play of actors. And yet, several times (and I was very pleased), you can feel, grasp the thirst for life of secondary heroes, their feverish desire to grab, if not happiness, then at least enjoy it and have time to enjoy it before you were sent to the gallows or pierced your head in another scuffle . For many of us, concerned not with how to achieve what we want, but with where and how to find what we should desire, it is nice to at least see this thirst, which so vividly contrasts with dirt and poor life, and regret a little of its unattainability.

@asadchughtai(69)· 2812d

Very great performance all of these.All of these are so claver.Very interesting story of this movie.Very intelligent director of this movie.This movie earn 90 million dollers.Its so huge amount.what a wonderful trailor of this movie.Everyone like this great movie.Thanks for sharing.

@empress-eremmy(76)· 2812d

Way tooo long, especially if you're not into Western style movies. It was a great movie though, with lewis really stealing the show

@amjad1550(53)· 2812d

@gooddream Gangs of the new york Based on real story. Thnaks for sharing.

@moghul(65)· 2812d

The butcher is outstanding. All credit goes to him

@martinmcfly(60)· 2812d

Incredible performance!

Daniel Day-Lewis is incredibly good. By the way, what you say about DiCaprio is relatively true. I mean, I think he's a good actor, but I think the biggest attraction that a viewer can have about him is that the films he appears in are generally good movies, that's because he's associated with very good directors, like it is in the case of Scorsese.

Excellent review!

@ketcom(74)· 2812d

The cast are great, the film is packed.

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