Gangs Of New York

the celtic tiger

an excellent film. day lewis was phenomenal. dicaprio was good but the accent faded in and out. fight scenes were excellent. rock.

TinCool

Grand job. Have my tickets for tonight.

phreak

Originally posted by TinCool
Grand job. Have my tickets for tonight.

same here. leaving the house as soon as i press "submit reply"

spooky donkey

Yeah i heard some reports say it wasent all that.

I hope its good i plan to go see it some time soon.

aine

Daniel DAy Lewis is by faaaaaaaaar the best method actor on the scene today! it was well worth Scorsese's time in trying to get him to be involved in the project! If he doesnt get an oscar for best supporting actor it will be a crime!

dicaprio was good but the accent faded in and out

his accent was spot on!! he wouldnt have had a perfectly strong Irish accent if you think about it, I mean he was born in the States and spent most of his youth in the care of the ward or whatever so his accent would have been influenced! i thought his performance was well and truly up to scratch and depending on catch me if you can (he's supposed to be just as good in that) in my opinion hes worthy of at least a nomination at this years oscars!

one of my faves good ole Liam played his part, no matter how small, to perfection. I mean he's only in the first what? 20 mins but his character hangs over the entire film so it had to be a good twenty!

there were many fine performances, however I wouldnt put Cameron DIaz in there......her accent was shocking! and that aside I just couldnt really take to her!

well worth the view!

StarScream

its been a few hours since iv seen it but im still not sure if i like it yet, probably cause the climax of the film seemed a bit brief. definatly one that i need to see a second time

LoGiE

I went to see this tonight and was extemely disappointed. This film is in no way a classic,
It contains a romance that just about gets off the ground even though the films just under 3hrs long.

A revenge plot thats botched when when the final show down comes to nothing, really shrapnel kills the bad guy and Leo just stabs him for good measure!

.

Yes Daniel Day Lewis was excellent along with Liam Nieson but thats it from the major players...Di caprio's accent was brutal. At one stage he actually sounded like a farmer from the brittish midlands "This season I'll mostly be wearing a red and white stripped top!" I won't even mention Diaz her role seemed tacked on from the start.

I think what really put the final nail in the coffin for me was the New York through the ages at the end of the film...Jesus how cheesy can you get! "Damn I feel proud to be American"
For a film that took Scorcese 25yrs to get out maybe he could have worked on it for another 5 or so.

Turnip

Disappointing. Disjointed. Poor script. Poor characters apart from Neeson, the tammany boss and DDL, Lots of "How did that character get there?" questions.

Mr E

In general, I liked it. Day-Lewis was a smug, sneering, egotistical, evil bastard, and he was brilliant! DiCaprio and Diaz were only OK. Gleeson was very good, as usual. Broadbent was excellent.

I know they had alot of trouble editing this movie. In some places, the editing is really terrible and disjointed (the camera angle changes and people are in different positions, sometimes facing different directions). One glaring mistake is where Jenny is crawling along the ground, she props herself up on a box, then a long camera angle shows her still crawling along the ground.

I also noticed that in the fight at the start - a handful of punches obviously missed faces, but people still lurched as if they'd been hit.

I think the good things outweigh the bad, though. The anniversary scene in the chinese bar/restaurant was very well done - tense and completely vicious. Day-Lewis really shone here. The riot scenes were well shot. There was a good dose of humour throughout the movie.

Not a classic, but definitely worthy of €7.50 of anyones money.

I believe that the full unedited version is almost 4 hours in length. I look forward to the DVD release later on this year.

- Dave.

SweetBirdOfTruth

story is atrociously basic - "i've come for the man who killed my pa" / love triangle / betrayal / yada yada yada. the epic sprawl is meant to cover up these deficincies, but is too epic and doesn't hold together. the two strands of the movie - civil war draft riots versus lawlessness on gang-run streets - didn't mesh, as the finale proves. maybe the director's cut will show it to be a true suburban heaven's gate, but i'm not counting on it getting any better. thought i'd be bothered by the hats and 'taches but in the end it was leo's name (new) amsterdam that grated more, for some reason.

ddl wonderful, diaz pulled off a crap role well, leo played it like hamlet (which i offer as a compliment). broadbent good, even brendan gleeson managed to offer a performance that didn't grate. which is a nice change.

kinda liked some of the music (maura o'connell as she walked through the fair singing ... and the use of paddy's lamentation was quite perfect) but ... i know he dumped the original soundtrack, but why he picked what he did (afro celts? a plague on all your houses). if he was going to do that he shoulda oughta picked a good new york band like black 47, who'd bring the perfect soundtrack to it.

Mr. Fancypants

Saw it last night, was stuck up in row 1 of UGC (ugh!). Still have a sore neck. Enjoyed it to a degree. Was some truly amazing scenes in it but the whole film didnt gel well for me. The final 20 mins where a big letdown too.

As TmB says the editing was seriously suspect too. Maybe the DVD version will be film it should of been.

Samson

I was very disappointed.
After all the hype, all I got was a muddle, the story was not really told the way it should have been.
Don't get me wrong, certainly the film had good moments and every segment with Day-Lewis was excellent, he truly deserves an oscar for his role (I would sit through the film again just to watch his performance, and that is saying a lot).

Brendan Gleeson and Jim Broadbent were their usual dependable selves, but we could have done with more of Gleeson.

I really thought that Leonardo and Cameron were poor choices for their respective roles and neither did anything to enhance their reputations, in fact I thought the film could well have done without the Jenny character altogether.

The pacing of the film was lousy, it seemed to drag on forever, and then came to an abrupt (anti) climax.

I can't say I noticed the editing mistakes but I did think that the film had a bit of a "sloppy" feel to it.

I agree with LoGiE about the ending, completely cheesey!

Good:
Daniel Day-Lewis (best thing about the film)
Violence
Brendan Gleeson
Music during the battle of five points at the start.
Jim Broadbent

Bad:
Leonardo DiCaprio (and his accent)
Cameron Diaz (and her accent)
Cheesey ending
General sloppiness of the finished product
Romantic sub-plot
Pacing

kamobe

I saw it today, not 'expecting' anything (good or bad). But I thoroughly enjoyed that movie. D D Lewis was EXCELLENT.

If he doesn’t get an Oscar for best supporting actor it will be a crime!

'Supporting'?

I'd recommend it to anyone. Great movie.

Mr E

Originally posted by kamobe
'Supporting'?

Yeah, Best Actor is more appropriate. Leo supported him, not the other way round.

- Dave.

the66electric

Day Lewis was absolutely incredible but i was really let down by the last 15 minutes and the speed of them. I wasn't the only person confused by the introduction of the draft riots, the non-existant gang fight etc. Scorsese's trademark flare wasn't really evident, only every know and then.

Dissapointing but i'd go see it again to see 'The Butcher'...

Pugsley

Loved the film, the ending was rather pants, but the opening fight scene was superb, Day Lewis really did make the film tho.

DeadBankClerk

Can someone inform me why they went killing the blacks at the end? Was the riot not anti draft? The mob stormed up fifth avenue and ransacked the place and took any guns they could. Then the police telegram man said 'They are killing negros on twenty seventh street' etc. Then the mob sees the black guy from the Dead Rabbits and says 'there's a ******! get him', and they kill him.

Why were they killing blacks? Was it anger at slavery being abolished?

Goodshape

Originally posted by DeadBankClerk

Was it anger at slavery being abolished?

Yea it was... plus the natives were kicking the sh!t into everyone but themselves.

Thought it was great myself. The last fifteen minutes were far too rushed alright... didn't find it too confusing though, just badly managed.

Day-Lewis' performance was the best I could expect to see from anyone this year. Outstanding to say the least.

The yanks (Dicaprio & Diaz) didn't annoy me as much as they did others.. a few of the people I saw it with reckoned they ruined the entire film. Pity that.

johnnynolegs

This film is amazing - don't let anyone tell u otherwise

Dicaprios accent is not as bad as everyone is making out it slips rite at the end but that is about it

While i Don't think cameron diaz's character should have been there i do think she done well enuff with what she was given

Daniel Day Lewis I applaud thee - the man is a genius. anybody who has seen it knows i don't need to say anymore and for everyone who hasn't seen it wait until u see him

Everyone else was good aswell , Gleeson , broadbent et al and the fight scenes were genuinely horrific

brilliant

Samson

Originally posted by DeadBankClerk
Can someone inform me why they went killing the blacks at the end?

I think the reasoning behind the execution of negroes was that they were somewhat responsible for the draft, seeing as the (American civil) war was being fought (to some extent anyway) over the abolishment of slavery.

hussey

I thought film was good/great
some acting was super, namely DDL,leeson,glesson and broadbent and leo proves he can act (well a lot better than titanic) his accent does flucuate

and can someone please tell me what was 'O grady' (I think that was his name - the one leo fish hooked) was in .. I know his face just cant remember where though

darthmise

Good film, i think i expected too much though.

aine

'Supporting'?

well, the story does centre around amsterdam and his life, fair enough Bill plays a huge part in that story but Day Lewis' character would technically speaking be a supportive one! plus putting him in that bracket would heighten his chances of an Oscar, although I a friend of mine told me that Richard Gear is hotly tipped for that category too for his role in Chicago!

Mr.Applepie

I think i might wait untill the directors cut comes out to see it. After all when it was first done it was 4 hours long. So i'd say a bit of the story might have been edited out

kamobe

think i might wait until the directors cut comes out to see it.

No matter how good your home system is, you'll always miss out a little watching it in your sitting room. It is a cinema worthy flick. I reckon most of those who've seen it and put down, do so because it didn't meet their high expectations, but would agree that it's worth the spend (correct me if I'm wrong of course).

Having said that. I'll definitely be watching the DVD when it arrives in the stores here

GreenHell

Enjoyed it, some very memoriable lines in the script, bit of a bore in places but over all good acting good story, can't go wrong.

da_deadman

Thought it was a brilliant film, ending was very good although it was a bit rushed. Day-Lewis is brilliant, as always, Gleeson, Leeson, and most of the cast are very good. Some of the accents arent the best but DiCaprio's isn't too bad. It's one for repeat viewings even if just for Day-Lewis and some of the fight scenes (especially the opening one)

Kix

Can't believe it, I just walked out after about an hour. Wasn't enjoying it at all.

IMHO it doesn't hang together and it never feels believable. Accents were terrible and battles completely unconvincing. Suspension of disbelief was impossible. His New York felt like a comic book setting, more like a 19th century Gottham City than any real place.

A huge let-down.

K

Samson

Originally posted by aine
...although I a friend of mine told me that Richard Gear is hotly tipped for that category too for his role in Chicago!

Oh dear sweet bleeding Jesus no, please no.

musashidan

The killing of the blacks was the only historical accuracy in the film
In the 1850's the Irish were drafted into the Yankee army.The blacks on the other hand weren't.This,in turn, led to the rioting.
150 blacks were killed at the hands of pissed off Irishmen during the riots.Oh yeah,the drinking and brawling was very accuratly portrayed as well!!!

Mutz

Didnt like it at all,

The Film was way too long and DeCaprio cant act to save his life.

Day Lewis was the only redeeming factor in that film ( + all the irish actors included... gave them a bit of scope I suppose)

KiKaZZ

This film although not quite the virtuoso masterpiece Scorsese created with Goodfellas is certainly his best film since. The sets were grand and sweeping, the blood seeping into the snow, the dirty streets of the five points and the malevolant glow of the butchers theatre practically guarantees a cinematography oscar.

Dicaprio is not the "oirish" disaster that most will make him out to be and Diaz is decent eye candy and serves her purpose well. Broadbent, Neeson and Gleeson are perfect as usual. However the real shining light and glue that holds this bloody creation together is Day-Lewis. Every second the Butcher is on screen he chews the scenery and dominates this tale. Budding actors take note - this is how it's done. For me he is 50% of this picture. I understand that the script passed through several writer's hand before it was finished so for the character to maintain his evil charm is a stroke of cinematic genius.

Out of five? Oh lets say 4.....if not simply for Day Lewis.

Wheeler

DIAZ RUINED THE FILM.SHE SOUNDED LIKE A ****IN INDIAN

Space Coyote

I was very disappointed with the ending.
Di Caprio's character, Amsterdam is gritting his teeth for 16 years to avenge his father's death. When it actually comes to a face-to-face with Bill the Butcher, Bill gets a mortal wound from a piece of shrapnel.

Overall 3/5

Day-Lewis 5/5, superb performance

Bounty Hunter

Daniel Day-Lewis:
Give that man an oscar
i also found the ending to be a bit of a anticlimax but it was a ending to a superb film

Makaveli

Didnt like it at all, it just dragged on and on and on.
A big build up to nothing.
DDL was great, the best thing about it.
I really couldnt get into this film at all.

Go see City of God instead, now that's a fantastic film.

MisterAnarchy

Enjoyable film .
First 105 minutes is very good but then it goes a bit off track.
Accents in general were atrocious.
The guy who played Tommy in Snatch had a really funny one.
I can see U2 destroying the opposition and winning the Oscar for best Original Song.
A stunning song.

Pigman II

Originally posted by Mr.Applepie
I think i might wait untill the directors cut comes out to see it. After all when it was first done it was 4 hours long. So i'd say a bit of the story might have been edited out

Scorcese doesn't DO 'directors cuts'. At least he has that much artistic integrity.

Typedef

Brilliant, despite the incessant presence of DiCaprio on screen.

Daniel Day Lewis is as always brilliant and in many ways carries the entire film.

But, that's just my opinion.

Sev

Its the usual old overly melodramatic hollywood crap that just makes you want to cringe. But I thought it was worth watching for pure entertainment value.

Typedef

sev
Its the usual old overly melodramatic hollywood crap that just makes you want to cringe. But I thought it was worth watching for pure entertainment value.

As opposed to the usual repressed fatalistic Irish drama?

Fair enough.

mada999

thought it was a great film loved the music at the start when they were walking out to have the first fight - all the drums and all.

Leo's accent was a bit rough though i have to admit!

Clintons Cat

i am going to go against the orthodoxy and slag Day Lewis,i thought he was Overhamming every scene he was in,i thought Liam Nielson stole the early scenes in the film and acted day lewis off the screen,

Bill the Butcher...More like Mr Punch the Panto Villan

"What we gonna do with him Boys and Girls...?"
"....Cut him up and put him in a pie"

Oh and the ending riots were poorly explained,virtually no mention was made throughout the film of any underlying tension between Black and White so the emphasis of the Black lynchings that dominated the final riots seemed curiously juxtaposed against the main narative of inter communal irish v native violence

"The Poles are attacking the black orphanage"
"why?"
"ar because"

sci0x

Originally posted by Clintons Cat
Oh and the ending riots were poorly explained,virtually no mention was made throughout the film of any underlying tension between Black and White so the emphasis of the Black lynchings that dominated the final riots seemed curiously juxtaposed against the main narative of inter communal irish v native violence

Yes i agree. The film is about half an hour too long and the climax of the film - the daft riots - is dissatisfying. Certain plot points and relationships are glossed over, while others are given more time than they actually need.

pickarooney

Jazis, you thought about it long enough before agreeing!