I liked GANGS OF NEW YORK better than you, kingrat, and also think Leonardo DiCaprio's acting is more than adequate (we can agree to disagree on that point). However, I am in total agreement with you about Daniel Day-Lewis. He's clearly an extremely skilled craftsman and wouldn't come off as "acting" to a typical movie viewer, but there is a lack of emotional connection that diminishes the power of his performances. And technical skill and emotional connection can co-exist in an acting performance: probably the best example is Meryl Streep's work in A CRY IN THE DARK.kingrat wrote: ↑March 15th, 2023, 11:55 am I had taped Gangs of New York and have now watched the first half. It's slow, well-crafted, and uninvolving--my general reaction to most Scorsese films. I couldn't care less about any of the characters. Even the scenes that are supposed to be sexy seem remote. The plot is like a superhero comic book franchise "origin story." The Sepia Sludge cinematography did not deserve its Oscar nomination.
Cameron Diaz is lovely, but doesn't fit the period, nor does Leonardo Di Caprio. I've never been wowed by Di Caprio's looks or acting (which is perfectly adequate), but he has the Tom Cruise ability to look like he belongs at the center of a movie. Daniel Day Lewis is such a cold fish that his villain is two-dimensional, not too interesting, though good enough for this movie. Day Lewis is like the older generation of theater-trained British actors (Olivier, Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave) who don't necessarily connect with the audience emotionally despite their remarkable skill.
What genuinely delighted me was the elegance of the tall stovepipe hats. Good work by the costume department.
The sweetie and I watched GANGS OF NEW YORK on Watch TCM. (It was a second viewing for me, but I had forgotten almost everything about the plot.) The sweetie remarked that the violence and gore was something usually only seen in fantasy or horror movies.
I had totally forgotten the shot of "present day" New York City featuring the World Trade Center Twin Towers at the end of the movie.
It also didn't click until the end that Henry Thomas (Elliott from E.T.) played the friend of DiCaprio's character.