GANGS OF NEW YORK

2002 ****1/2 167 mins.

This is, on the most part, an entertaining epic from director Martin Scorsese. However, the film does get a bit cliched and monotonous after a while. In fact, I was going to give the film four stars until the final shot, which I felt boosted the film a bit. This is film is hardly artistic, but it is still damn good cinema.
Rated R for intense strong violence, sexuality/nudity, and language.

• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (Super 35)
• Premiere date: December 9, 2002

• ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo), Best Cinematography Michael Ballhaus), Best Costume Design (Sandy Powell), Best Director (Martin Scorsese ), Best Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), Best Music - Original Song (Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. For the song "The Hands That Built America"), Best Picture (Alberto Grimaldi and Harvey Weinstein), Best Sound (Tom Fleischman, Eugene Gearty, and Ivan Sharrock), and Best Writing - Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan)
• GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS: Best Director - Motion Picture (Martin Scorsese) and Best Original Song - Motion Picture (U2 For the song "The Hands That Built America")
• GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS: Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama (Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture (Cameron Diaz)