GANGS OF NEW YORK —** 1/2 — Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Henry Thomas, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson, John C. Reilly, Donnie Wahlberg; rated R (violence, gore, profanity, racial epithets, nudity, sex, torture, vulgarity, brief drug use).
The opening sequence of "Gangs of New York" contains more graphic gore and violence than it does actual dialogue. And it pretty much sums up everything that's wrong with the film — a long-delayed, even-longer-in-production epic from filmmaker Martin Scorsese.
"Gangs of New York" is a film that suffers because of its many excesses.
Also, the film is surprisingly unfocused and inconsistent. Stress "surprisingly," because not only does it come from Scorsese and include a top-notch cast, it also features contributions from two screenwriters — veterans Steve Zaillian and Kenneth Lonergan — who should have been able to help it find its focus.
In fact, the wildly inconsistent tone even overshadows some of the film's better performances, including certain Oscar-nominee Daniel Day-Lewis.
Though the title perhaps suggests a modern-day setting, "Gangs of New York" is actually a 19th-century tale, a heavily fictionalized account of the struggles to control New York during the Civil War.
One person rising to power at the time is one William Cutting (Day-Lewis), better known as "Bill the Butcher" to the locals. He runs Native Americans, the dominant gang.
Bill has already eliminated his strongest threat, the Irish immigrant gang the Dead Rabbits, which was run by Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson). But nearly two decades later, Priest's son (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns, looking for vengeance.
Calling himself Amsterdam, the lad infiltrates the Native Americans and endears himself to Bill by showing surprising business acumen, as well as a willingness to learn about butchery from the best.
But Amsterdam starts having doubts about the plan when Bill begins to look upon him as a surrogate son. The deciding factor may be Jenny Everdean (Cameron Diaz), a petty thief romanced by both men.
To its credit, "Gangs" is at least as handsome-looking and vivid as it is wildly sprawling. But the ending feels particularly rushed, and Scorsese's direction is somewhat overindulgent.
As Amsterdam, DiCaprio is not terrible. But he doesn't seem imposing, nor is he dynamic enough to hold his own with Day-Lewis, who returns from a five-year hiatus with one of his best-ever performances (one that nearly redeems the film all by itself).
In support, Diaz is her usual charming self, while British actors Brendan Gleeson and Jim Broadbent both steal scenes as, respectively, an Irish politician and a corrupt community leader.
"Gangs of New York" is rated R for graphic scenes of violence (stabbing, clubbings, brawling, gunfire and explosive mayhem), graphic gore, occasional use of strong sex-related profanity, racial epithets and ethnic slurs, female nudity, simulated sex and sexual contact, a scene of torture, crude sexual talk and brief drug use (opium). Running time: 160 minutes.
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