More about this DVD  •  DVD Info  •  Movie Main Page  •  Message Board

So, how did the race turn out? Spielberg and DreamWorks held tight to the Christmas release date, bumping Gangs to early December, and Scorsese's return to the hallowed ground of Fellini ended up on just about every critic's top ten list at year's end. Yet Spielberg's heist creampuff ran off with over $150 million, while Gangs was left with a "mere" $80 million. Box office battles aside, this extensive new two-disc set proves that Scorsese's ambitious epic suffers more than a little from an acute case of the emperor's new clothes. Sure, Catch Me If You Can was easily dismissed because of its cotton-candy lightness and effervescent, flighty spirit, but Gangs of New York is all buildup and no delivery. All the elements of a solid, neoclassical epic are here - a great cast, tremendous set design and art direction, and, of course, Scorsese - but Gangs rings as a hollow film, one that is easy to appreciate for its gory, triumphant, decidedly "American" baroque spirit, but hard to really like.

Believe me, Daniel Day-Lewis is not the main problem with the film as some have claimed. His Bill the Butcher is a demonic, mesmerizing character, and Day-Lewis is able to bring an eerie urgency and lackadaisical colloquialism to Bill's manipulative attacks. He's a decisive villain, yes, but he is also the character that it is the easiest to connect with. Hands-down the meanest motherfucker around, Day-Lewis is still able to bring a subtlety and nuance to his portrayal, which makes it all the easier to fear him. It's a staggering performance.

Rather, it is the rest of the cast who just aren't up to task. Leo is overly grumpy and monotonous, and his Amsterdam native never gets a chance to do anything but tread water. As the protagonist of this vast, sprawling epic, the fact that he is instantly usurped whenever Daniel Day-Lewis wanders into the frame doesn't say much for his presence here. And poor Cameron Diaz: Even if the other two Charlie's Angels swooped in at the climax with legs kicking kung-fu style, there is a sad reality that we all have to face - her accent just doesn't work. Worse, her character literally feels tacked-on. Yes, it's nice to watch DiCaprio make out with one of the more eligible bachelorettes in the world of cinema, but Diaz's entire place in the narrative framework of this film is wholly unnecessary, and as the film hobbles to a close, her presence is reduced to being cliched and blase. It's a misguided role both in conception and execution.

Much has been made of the sheer visual bravura of Gangs of New York and it is certainly a wonder to behold. but as a film it is simply a mishmash of good ideas and intentions. Scorsese goes for the jugular, yet my biggest complaint would be that it still doesn't feel like a Scorsese picture. It's not just that it's a period piece, as Marty was able to bring an extraordinary sense of joi di vivre to The Age of Innocence that was simply breathtaking. Rather nothing here has drive, nothing seems to gel. The end result is a picture that contains some amazing moments, but fails to match its scale and ambition. And it is indeed a very admirable failure, but one that even those who liked it would have to agree just doesn't quite cut it.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

A two-disc set, this sprawling 167-minute epic gets spliced in half and split across two platters, with the second disc actually boasting a longer runtime. The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer here is striking, even if it isn't quite as good as it should be. Most surprising is that the source material is not in pristine shape. I noticed quite a bit of dirt and grime on the print in a number of instances. Otherwise, this is a very good transfer in almost all other respects. Colors are marvelous, with an eye-popping richness and very clean reproduction. Blacks and contrast are excellent, resulting in often extraordinary detail - shadow delineation is well above average and the transfer often has a very three-dimensional appearance. Given the high bitrate, compression artifacts aren't a problem and I noticed no real edge enhancement. Some may find the intermission annoying and pretentious, but aside from the spotty print this is a very nice transfer.

Audio: How Does The Disc Sound?

The transfer may have a few problems, but the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround mix is top-of-the-line. Frequency response is hefty, broad and boomy, offering ample opportunities for sheer sonic bombast and envelopment. Separation across all channels is very engaging which makes for an astoundingly rich three-dimensional experience, and the .1 FLE track given quite a workout, making this one a real low-end wonder. Howard Shore's score (and even U2's humdrum single, "The Hands That Built America") sound great, perfectly balanced in the mix and with plenty of surround activity.

But wait, the included DTS 5.1 track one-ups this already-great Dolby mix, offering a more finely detailed, better directed mix. Minute details are more noticeable and enhanced in the surrounds, plus bass is crisper and imaging even more transparent. The DTS is even more enveloping, and sounds like a million bucks.

Also included is a French 5.1 Dolby Digital dub, English and French subtitles and English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

Even given the sprawling length of the film, this two-disc set is filled with plenty of extras. The screen-specific audio commentary from Martin Scorsese was the real source of interest for me, as my entire emotional reaction to the film was largely predicated on why Scorsese wanted to make this particular labor of love in the first place, as well as its tumultuous journey to the screen. And while Scorsese makes for a wonderful guide through the rigors of production, those expecting lots of grist will be disappointed. Everything seems peachy-keen and surprisingly sedate. Scorsese's enthusiasm shines through, don't get me wrong, but it seems like many of the much-buzzed about controversies that held up the film for so long are glossed over in favor of explanations of historical and dramatic motivations. Scorsese is a great commentator - to listen to this commentary even without watching the film first is worthy of a rental - but I can't help but think it may have been toned down. (Note that this is a full-length commentary, split across two discs along with the feature.)

Next we have a 9-minute look at Dante Ferretti's Set Design, a simply mythic creation of olde New York. Watching this cinematic master concoct an amazing milieu for Scorsese's dream project, as well as the cast and crew reflect on the experience - both Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day-Lewis show up in various interview segments - it becomes brain-bending to imagine just how much work went into making this vast playground of a set. And while the 22- minute Exploring the Sets of Gangs of New York may be a bit overlong, if anything it shows the sheer vastness of the enterprise. As Ferretti and Scorsese walk around, the scope of the production really comes full circle: It is apparent that this is no mere Hollywood soundstage with three rickety walls jerry-rigged to look like a period-era city - this is the real deal. In addition to the full-frame featurette, we get an optional 360-degree view, a pop-up window that allows the viewer to take a cheesy full-range view of the sets in question. It's a nice idea for an extra, but the conversation and vicarious sense of wonder portrayed by Scorsese and Ferretti is more than enough.

Sandy Powell's Costume Design is dissected next, and it's a fascinating peek at how the filmmaking team "cheated" to get that special look so integral to Scorsese's vision, from conceptualizing the wardrobes and characters to creating thousands of glorious costumes at amazing effort and expense. Simply astonishing. The History of the Five Points is a 13-minute exploration of the historical realities and sociological mythology behind Gangs of New York. We get reflections on the period from the film's collaborators, as well as a nice history lesson from historical advisor Luc Sante. This one makes it readily apparent that while the film was directly inspired by real-life events, considerable liberties were taken with the people and places to create a compelling work of fiction. Also included is a Five Points Study Guide, an in- depth text introduction from Sante, as well as a look at Five Points Vocabulary from "The Rogue's Lexicon" by George Matsell (1859). Wonderful icing on the cake.

All of the above are on the first disc, while disc two features the more fleshed-out, 30- minute documentary Uncovering the Real Gangs of New York, which originally aired on The Discovery Channel. Using reams of old pictures, documents and historical reminiscences, this is a wonderful addendum to the 13-minute featurette on disc one even though some of the information is a bit redundant. It's not the greatest in the world - formally, it's pretty plain - but the information it houses may be twice as interesting as anything in the film.

Rounding it out are the usual promotional items. We're treated to the film's theatrical trailer and teaser, both in Dolby 5.1 and anamorphic widescreen and full screen, respectively. I always thought the full trailer was a bit cheesy, relying too heavily on the summer blockbuster graphics and titles flying at the screen for that added oomph. However, it still made me want to see it, while the teaser is even sillier, unfortunately emphasizing Cameron Diaz's sometimes/sometimes-not accent and an over-the-top symphonic underscore. Last but not least we have the U2 music video for "The Hands That Build America." It is ridiculous. First of all, the mix of the song used in the film is more "pared down" and blandly melodramatic than the already-corny version included on the band's 2002 "Best Of" compilation. It is even worse than the version that accompanies the end credits of the film. Don't get me wrong - Bono and the boys are the perfect choice for this movie (even if they aren't even Americans!), but by sheer bad luck, the song they've concocted is just plain bad. The video is ridiculous and stagy as well, and is presented in its original 2-channel stereo mix.

DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

The only thing here is a simple custom interface with basic controls and weblinks directing us to Miramax online.

Parting Thoughts