To review this movie it helps actually to try to figure what it is. And it is allot of things. Part of it is like allot of Scorsese films, particularly more recent ones, in that it is another attempt at getting an Oscar. It is also a costume drama. A classic style mob movie with murdered fathers and revengeful sons. And all this with a great cast and in a richly stylized setting.
Now I am going to do what I usually do and that is to work though what I set out in that first paragraph. Trying to allot a paragraph to each thing. All the while trying to bring out an honest dialogue about the good and bad, the weak and strong et cetera of the movie. And for this one, that is going to be a bit of a monster undertaking.
First, on Scorsese. I haven't seen allot by him. "Age of Innocence", "Taxi Driver" maybe some other works but not "The Aviator" not "Raging Bull" some but not all of "The Departed". All of these I want to see but that is beside the point in that you do not need to see all of what Scorsese has done to get a picture of what he is doing. And what he is doing is this; trying to get his fair share of Oscar which he deserves and got for "The Departed". But for the longest time, probably since "Taxi Driver" was nominated for four Oscars in 1976, he has been working for what "The Departed" got him. This becomes most evident in movies like "Gangs of New York" because he goes for moving drama set in some time past which he works very hard to bring in full life to the screen. He tried this in "Age of Innocence" and everybody hated that. Does this drive make this movie or his movies in general bad, no. This drive forces allot down the throat of a movie, and good stuff too, but it also loosens the movies spine and all that good stuff cannot work with out a proper backbone.
That being said, lets look at what this movie has to offer. I would like to say that what this movie offers, it does to the fullest. "Gangs of New York" is a costume drama in every way. It takes place in during the Civil War, so from soldiers uniforms to the various garbs of the different gangs this movie is covered. And it isn't just the costume that makes "Gangs of New York" as costume drama. There are three masted ships and elaborate upper-class parties and all manor of period picture things. Scorsese has done this before in "The Age of Innocence" and had every detail researched, the difference here is that this movie has at its center a basic plot that we know and love.
The mob movie. It is long, tried and true, plot line that Scosese has allot of practice in. This one is like allot of others. There is a mob war, one side looses and that sides leaders son goes into exile. He comes back and becomes friendly with his fathers enemy all the while plotting revenge. He tries and fails to kill his fathers enemy. Comes back after a long and hard recovery to do what he first set out to do meanwhile seducing a beautiful girl. Eventually he triumphs in a thrilling and violent war and life goes on. Guess what happens in "Gangs of New York". You have seen it but this is just as good as any other, even a bit different. Its 1860's setting gives a different feel while maintaining the styles of gangs (some wear prim blue cloths with stovepipe hats while the others are wearing more ragged red stripes). Again though, nothing really new just another spin on it. It is fine.
I have all ready talked somewhat on the look of the film. But it really does have a bit of its own life, worth spending more than a few mentions. "Gangs of New York" has a beautiful color pallet. Allot of warm colors periodically punctuated by colors more hot or more cold than your usual yellows and oranges. But it can seem almost overly so. How much this way or how much that way can people dress? It is very beautiful to watch and allot of the imagery seems to come from woodblock illustrations of the time, busy theaters, sculpted mustaches and the like. And even more, occasionally the video ramps to add dramatic effects to usually innocuous actions like door opening or around turning. All this is cool and works. But again it is more okay than really good. Looking at it it is a little more push on the action that does not need to be there.
So what is a break down of all this. Over all, everything is good. Four stars, I liked it. But go back to what Scorsese is doing here, force feeding this to be a masterpiece. And it is but it comes off a bit over weight. By that I mean it is so loaded with trying to be great that it beaches it self like a whale to some degree. For a final word I would tell those interested to see it. It is a worth while and beautiful movie with great actors and great design. Just not exceptional enough on some level.
All the same four stars, I really want to end this one a positive note.