‘Masterpiece’ gangster film with star-studded cast on Channel 4 tonight | Films | Entertainment
A savage gangland epic featuring an ensemble of Hollywood A-listers is broadcasting on Channel 4 this evening.
The Martin Scorsese masterpiece Gangs of New York boasts Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis and Cameron Diaz in a gritty tale set during the lawless 1860s when criminal organisations ruled the streets through terror and bloodshed.
Newly released Irish immigrant Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio) emerges from prison seeking vengeance for his father’s murder.
The ruthless gang boss and fierce anti-immigrant William Cutting (Day-Lewis) killed Vallon’s father, and Amsterdam realises his only chance of retribution lies in penetrating Cutting’s trusted circle.
What begins as a quest for revenge transforms into a desperate battle for survival amid New York’s merciless streets, reports the Mirror.
This marked the inaugural collaboration between acclaimed filmmaker Scorsese and DiCaprio, and upon its 2002 release, the production earned an impressive 10 Academy Award nominations, though it failed to secure any Oscars.
The picture achieved remarkable box office success but polarised reviewers, with some hailing it as a “masterpiece” whilst others dismissed it as chaotic and excessively lengthy.
Day-Lewis’s portrayal of the villainous Cutting received widespread acclaim, though several other performers faced criticism for various elements including their vocal delivery.
The film holds a 72 percent approval rating on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. One review said: “It’s never less than compelling, driven by an overwhelming, larger than life performance from Day-Lewis and by Scorsese’s grandiose historical imagination.”
Whilst another added: “At turns brilliant and ponderous, luminous and drab, this is the type of ethereal feast only America’s greatest living director could attempt.”
A third observer noted: “The visuals are strong, while the central narrative is weak (a disastrous combination for a long movie). Worst of all, Gangs of New York achieves far too little while trying much too hard.”
Devotees of the picture proved more generous in their assessments. One fan said: “Yea, just watch it. A standout amongst films I have seen. Is it the greatest film ever created? No! And it’s not meant to be. It is meant to tell a story and captivate you. It will do just that. Enter the dirty and grimy city of New York City. Get a history lesson at the same time. Overall: 10/10, would always watch again.”
Another fan added: “I love this movie. It offers a unique and fascinating perspective of civil war era New York City. The setting and story were refreshing. Cameron Diaz may not have been the ideal choice for her role, but she didn’t detract from DiCaprio’s performance. Day-Lewis’s brilliance in this film is undeniable. His portrayal of Bill the Butcher ranks among the greatest movie villains of all time, rivalling Christof Waltz’s Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds with his irresistibly evil yet charming performance. It’s a must-watch film. The set design and costumes are equally impressive.”
A third viewer wrote: “Daniel Day Lewis’s portrayal of Bill Cutting I regard as the best performance by ANY actor in ANY movie EVER.”
A fourth added: “This film is genius. It is well directed and the two stars of the film are absolutely amazing. The dialogue is amazing, the plot is amazing, the acting is mostly amazing, and the visual style is great except for a few mistakes.”
Gangs of new York is on Channel 4 at 10.15pm on December 29.
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