00s Movie Review - Gangs of New York

Director: Martin Scorsese
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 147 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, John C. Reilly, Stephen Graham, Henry Thomas, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Neeson, Jim Broadbent, Eddie Marsan

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 49: A MOVIE WITH AND ACTOR/ ACTRESS YOU DISLIKE
 
Description: In 1962, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), his father’s killer.

Review: In “Gangs of New York”, director Martin Scorsese resents his cynical vision of the extremely bloody gang wars that plagued Manhattan in the mid-nineteenth century.

The film opens with a bloody battle in the Five Points area, where Irish immigrants clash with the American-born Nativists, led by the ruthless William cutting, knows as Bill the Butcher.
Sixteen years later, the son of the murdered Irish gang leader, returns to the neighborhood. Unfortunately, this characters, Amsterdam Vallon, doesn’t quite come into his own, but there is no doubt about his revenge against Bill the Butcher. This is one of those stories where you kind of side with the villain, because his character is way more interesting and fleshed out, not because he’s more likeable. And that is largely thanks to Daniel Day-Lewis, who portrays this ruthless gang leader as a charismatic psychopath. He created an instant classic movie villain. He steals the entire movie and makes Leonardo DiCaprio completely fade into the background. Not to speak of Cameron Diaz, who in my eyes was miscast. And I believe that they could have left her character out completely, she adds nothing to the story and you don’t care about her.

But “Gangs of New York” has more to offer than Day-Lewis’ monumental acting. Above all, the film fascinates with the almost maniacal detail with which the Manhattan of 1862 was reconstructed. The film looks stunning. We are plunged into an anarchic society. Scorsese has already showed us at length that Manhattan was nothing less than hell on earth in previous movies, but he has just mentioned that existence there in the nineteenth century was many times more miserable.

In Taxi Driver and Bringing out the dead, Scorsese had already shown us at length that Manhattan was nothing less than hell on earth. He had just never mentioned that existence there in the nineteenth century was many times more miserable.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 73: Nine

Director: Rob Marshall
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Musical
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Stacy Ferguson, Sophia Loren

Description: Famous film director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) struggles to find harmony in his professional and personal lives, as he engages in dramatic relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent, and his mother.

Review: There is line between film and theater, they are two different worlds. That’s something you can conclude after watching “Nine”. The show worked on Broadway, but not so much on the big screen. Director Rob Marshall was successful with the musical “Chicago”, but “Nine”…. No.
“Nine” is filled with big names. Daniel Day-Lewis plays the lead. He is a fantastic character actor, almost always flawless in his performances. Sadly this is not one of those performances. But it’s not all his fault, because his character is a bit limited. All the women in the film are okay. Judi Dench, Penélope Cruz, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard and Nicole Kidman.
The film has a very thin storyline and no surprises. With a cast like this, I expected more quality. “Nine” didn’t deliver.

Rating: 2/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 32: Lincoln

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 151 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Strathairns, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, John Hawkes, Jackie Earle Haley, Tim Blake Nelson, Bruce McGill, Lee Pace, Jared Harris

Description: In 1865, as the American Civil War winds inexorably toward conclusion, U.S. president Abraham Lincoln (Daniel Day-Lewis) endeavors to achieve passage of the landmark constitutional amendment which will forever ban slavery from the United States. However, his task is a race against time, for peace may come at any time, and if it comes before the amendment is passed, the returning southern states will stop it before it can become law.

Review: 1865, the United States of America has been tortured with a Civil War for already four years. President Lincoln wants to end it, but first he wants his 13th amendment to be approved by the congress. When it is approved it means that slavery will end. Steven Spielberg’s task was to bring the story of this beloved man to the big screen. Lincoln’s most important deed was ending slavery and that’s what this movie focusses on. No long introduction of the president’s life, we go directly to one of the most important moments of his career.
“Lincoln” is for a huge part about political developments, which can be confusing for the average viewer. Some difficult terms are used, together with a lot of characters. What Spielberg does best is building up the tension even though you already know how the story is going to end. With that you don’t even notice the two and a half hour duration of the film.
For the role of president Lincoln, Spielberg choose one of the best actors in Hollywood: Daniel Day-Lewis. He’s known for getting lost in his roles and he does that again with “Lincoln”. His performance is so intense that you forget that you’re watching an actor. Sally Field, who had to persuade Spielberg to give her the role, plays Lincoln’s wife. Her most impressive moment is when she is in an argument with Lincoln. Tommy Lee Jones steals the show with his supporting role as Thaddeus Stevens, whom I found the most likeable character of the film.
The movie looks fantastic, it’s been perfected with a great eye for detail. Lincolns office was an exact replica, including all the books that he had.
“Lincoln” is a beautiful historical drama, that focusses on one of the most important events in history. That Daniel Day-Lewis won an Academy Award for his role is more than deserved.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Oscar 2013 Wins

I love the Oscars, always look forward to them. I also try to predict every year, but I didn't do that great this year. I loved the host (I heart Seth MacFarlane) and I did see some great wins. Here are my favorite wins of the 2013 Oscars.

5. "Brave" winning Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
If a Disney movie is nominated, it will most likely win. I love "Brave", like practically every other Disney movie. Deserved!

4. Jennifer Lawrenve winning Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Although I was hoping for my favorite Naomi Watts and thinking it was going to be Jessica Chastain, I was so happy for Jennifer Lawrence. And felt so bad for her that she fell, but if I had just won an Oscar I wouldn't give a damn. And that speech was so touching and a bit awkward.

3. Daniel Day-Lewis winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
What a fabulous actor he is. He is the first actor to win three Academy Awards. I haven't seen "Lincoln" yet, but just a little clip tells me how great his performance is.

2. Quentin Tarantino winning Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
I was hoping he would be nominated for the best director award, because that's what he really deserves. But he so deserved this one as well. Tarantino is an awesome screenwriter and he's so unique. No one is like this guy.

1. Christoph Waltz winning Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
How amazing is this. Five years ago nobody outside Germany and Austria had heard from this guy and now he wins his second Academy Award. I loved him as Dr. King Schultz in "Django Unchained". It was totally unexpected though, because I really thought Tommy Lee Jones was going to win.

They Almost Made the Top 5: "Argo" for winning Best Motion Picture of the Year