Reviews

"Gangs of New York" is everything you've heard it was: dark, dramatic, violent, moving, thought-provoking, and, yes, very long. I felt that Martin Scorsese could have told the same story, with as much gravity, and still cut the movie by 30 minutes. Still, there are really very few spots that drag. While I do not believe it is the best film of the year, it does contain the best performance. Daniel Day-Lewis is amazing as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting. He makes you hate the character, as well as find yourself laughing with his cruel jokes. The character reminded me of "Curly Bill" Brocious (played by Powers Boothe) in "Tombstone", in that he was evil to the core, but still had plenty of charisma. His was not the only character that stood out. Brendan Gleeson breaks out as Monk, and Cameron Diaz gives her best performance to date. The film is good, but not great. The direction should be rewarded, as it is on the scale of "Braveheart" or "Saving Private Ryan". Scorsese balances hundreds of extras and a beautiful set to bring the viewer right into the scenes. The battles are as gruesome as in any movie, but still leave plenty to the imagination. The final camera shot is also powerful, and quite moving as it shows the evolution of New York City. I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys good movies, but was slightly disappointed due to the large build-up. I believe it will still be nominated for Best Picture in the Academy Awards, but feel that the true winners should be Scorsese and Day-Lewis.

I'd heard plenty of people tell me that I needed to see "Box of Moonlight" because it was filmed in Knoxville, TN (my hometown) and that it featured several signs and personalities familiar to Knoxvillians (the newscasters Gene Patterson and Kristin Hoke, the hot pink "Bambi's" bar/strip club, etc.), so I watched the movie almost entirely trying to pick up these things. I found myself enjoying a very subtle, lighthearted film about a man (John Turturro) struggling with a mid-life crisis, and eventually liberating himself from the normal stiff, "clockwork" persona he had become. Sam Rockwell gives a great performance as "Kid", and Catherine Keener is wonderful as the "simple southern girl" (a 180 degree turn from her role in "Being John Malkovich"). Turturro is excellent as Al, and you can feel the emotions he is having during his transformation. Everyone should be able to relate to his disappointment when he returns to the fictional Splatchee Lake, only to see that it is no longer what he remembers. You begin to understand how much he needs someone like Kid to break him free from the life that he so obviously loathes, but not until the final scene do you understand how much Kid needed him to stick around and be his friend (maybe Kid wasn't as slow-witted as we were made to believe?). The writing and acting in this film are wonderful, and I wish more filmmakers would make movies like this. It was a refreshing story, and one that is worth seeing.

I watched this movie hoping that it would eventually pick up speed and draw me in. It didn't. It was disappointing that, with a decent idea and a strong cast, the story could never catch or hold my interest. Thank goodness for the Klines (Kevin and Phoebe Cates, and their two children), who seem to be in a different league than the majority of the cast, and for John C. Reilly, who also stands out. If not for these few characters, the entire film would have empty. Still, these few cannot save this movie. I hoped their would be some twist at the end that salvaged something, but the credits just started to roll. Hopefully Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming will make another attempt, and it will make up for this bad party.

Philip Baker Hall gives an outstanding performance as Sydney, and John C. Reilly does his usual excellent job as John. All of the actors here make you feel exactly what is going on during the film, and Gwyneth Paltrow gives one of her best performances in this underrated story by Paul Thomas Anderson. If you've seen "Boogie Nights", you'll recognize the dialogue and tone of the movie. The characters are very well written, and each of the performers bring them to life perfectly. Philip Seymour Hoffman has a great cameo, and Samuel L. Jackson caps off a wonderful cast with his turn as the un-trustworthy Jimmy. If you liked "Boogie Nights" or "Jackie Brown", check this one out.