jackass movie review "Gangs of New York" solid A grade
the movie was gripping, riveting, captivating
Leonardo DiCaprio gets the top billing, but the Oscar nominee will be Daniel Day-Lewis, whose performance was extraordinary
DDL has his New York accent perfect
his expressions were perfect
his strut and arrogance were perfect
he was a rogue gang leader you loved to hate and hated to love
DiCaprio did a great job
he was a conniving mean kid struggling to exact revenge for his father's death at the hands of DDL in a gore-filled butcher scene of a group gang war in a Five-Point Courtyard
Cameron Diaz was great, but they bypassed a couple great opportunities to show off her wonderfully ample body in a love scene with DiCaprio
she was an expert thief who met her match in DiCaprio
excellent portrayal of Mayor Tammany, who lives as a criminal legend, pulls strings with firemen and policemen and gang leaders for his personal gain
the realism was utterly amazing, astounding, tremendous
the climax riot was very realistic, spellbinding
the backdrop of Civil War USA feeds into the conflict
$300 purchased a pass on the Army's draft, sparing the rich
not much changed from then to VietNam, where a college tuition receipt earned a pass for the rich kids
this is about the Irish, my descendants
they were treated like shit
they were scorned as trespassers in a new land
they were preyed upon by the police and resident gangs
their conflict with the English awaited them in NewYorkCity, even as they attempted to escape that never-ending battle
this is about the Irish, with musical customs, clan loyalty and support, and deeply colorful people
the music was outstanding, complete with fifes and drums in the background here and there and everywhere
blacks and chinese get caught in the crossfire
criminality is rampant and out of control
hangings took place to maintain the appearance of order
a good quote from Tammany:
"one can always hire half the poor to fight the other half"
how true
a tremendous film worth seeing
I predict Oscar nominations for:
Best Picture
Best Actor -- Daniel Day-Lewis
Best Music
Best Costumes
our nation of the United States of America was founded upon violence, corruption, escape from tyranny, and exploitation of the masses
we merely migrated the tyrants to local sites
not much has changed in 140 years
I honestly believe the post-WW2 era from 1950 to 1990 where the USA became a peace-keeping nation is the exception, not the rule
our streets remain a battleground of gang violence, rampant gunfire, theft, fraud, exploitation by the Ruling Elite, and covered-up murder and theft by the highest powers
this film will be seen regularly for 25 years
/ jim |
