Went to go see Gangs of New York last night. It is quite possibly the most violent movie I've ever seen - not for the squeamish - but it also boasts some phenomenal acting.
I've been looking forward to this movie for what seems like forever. It was supposed to come out nearly two years ago, and it just got delayed and postponed and delayed some more. I'll be honest, I've never actually seen another Martin Scorsese film (yes, I know, you can take me out and flog me later) but the buzz about this has been good from the very beginning. But after two years of waiting, I was beginning to take the delays as a personal affront. I'm funny like that.
Anyway, Leonardo is passable in the film - he broods a lot, and he's good at that. I didn't expect to be impressed with Cameron Diaz, and I wasn't blown away by her performance, but I found her believable - though I couldn't help thinking that if Uma Thurman hadn't gotten pregnant right around the time they were casting this movie, the role might have been a lot juicier. Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Henry Thomas, and John C. Reilly all put in understated yet layered and interesting performances.
But the tour de force in this movie is clearly Daniel Day-Lewis. The man is just a phenomenal actor. In most other actors' hands, the character of Bill the Butcher would have turned easily into a caricature - aided by the costuming and hair choices that, while suitable to the day, make him appear a bit ridiculous today. Looking at a still picture of Daniel Day-Lewis in stovepipe hat, plaid pants, and curled handlebar moustache, you would think the character was comedic. But this guy is evil. He's racist and prejudiced and oh yeah, a killer. He rules his corner of New York with an iron fist. He's freakin' scary.
I read an article a while back that talked about the way that Lewis immerses himself in his roles. For Last of the Mohicans, he went out into the woods for several months to learn how to live off the land, killing his own meat. For My Left Foot, he stayed wheelchair-bound on and off set for weeks. For the two months before filming The Crucible, he built by hand the house in which his character lived. This man takes method acting to its utmost extreme - so how is he supposed to get into character for a role like Bill the Butcher? Apparently he apprenticed with a butcher to learn carving skills and with some circus performers to learn how to throw knives. And for the rage, he reportedly listened to a lot of rap music.
His performance is astounding. I am compelled to go out and rent the rest of his movies, immediately. Go see this movie. I don't want to write a whole lot about it, because I don't want to include any sort of spoilers, but seriously - just go see it!