Saw Gangs Of New York at the weekend. It's perhaps not the masterpiece work of art that I was hoping for from Scorsese, but wow, it really is one of the most intense and mental films I've seen for a long time.
The 19th century New York depicted in GONY is a totally over the top baroque setting, populated by various gangs of overdressed stylised nutcases, like something dreamed up by Alfred Bester on crack.
And Bill the Butcher... Jesus H Christ, Daniel Day Lewis totally steals the show, playing one of the most mental mad bastards on screen ever. Every second he's on screen you're on the edge of your seat wondering what the hell he's going to do next. Especially when he's cutting up meat.
...and as for Dicapriao, well, I didn't feel like punching his pudgey little face by the end of it so I suppose it was what passes for a good performance from him.
I almost saw this the other day, but as Oddgirl was feeling knackered (after working all day in the cinema) she didn't want to stay at work to watch a long heavy film so we saw The Good Girl instead.
For a Jennifer Annison (sp?) film it was wonderfully depressing. It starts off with the appearance of a RomCom, but it's fairly lacking in Com & the Rom is fairly brutal.
But still hoping to see Gangs... as well as 8 Mile soon.
Daniel's scarey eye & moustache combo stares at me every morning from the bus stop.
First 15 mins were excellent - Daniel Day Lewis is tremendous & terrifying as 'Butcher Bill' . Sadly, as soon as Leo Di Caprio arrives it all goes tits up for me. The guy is a complete t*sser & simply cannot act. There is a gaping hole in the centre of the film where his performance should be. (But I'd say deffo see it just for the fight scenes & DDL anyway).
However film of the year (so far!) has to be 'City Of gGld' - all about teen hoodlums in the slums of Rio. Utterly fantastic film, trifle too long maybe, but clearly a work of genius (IMO).
Having seen it today I am currently growing a big 'tache and trying to find a top hat.
When was the last time you saw a film where the hero was any where as magnetic as the villain? wee Leo was blown off the screen, to anyone who saw this who wanted the Butcher to win in the end? I know I did.
I was looking for my thread on this which is probably down the bottom somewhere - I thought 'twas great too, anticipate the Judge Dredd "tribute" soon as all these aliens have scuttled off...
Hmm, picture Mean Machine with a huge top hat and moustache...