Gangs of New York (2002)

Emphasis on "New York," not "Gangs" -- despite the protests from disappointed critics and filmgoers about 'lack of character', the whole point is that this is a movie about New York. It's the film Scorsese's been leading up to his whole career, with New York City as the star and everyone else in support. And the film is a grand one -- a bold, sweeping historical yarn about the birth of the modern city and, by proxy, the nation as a whole. It captures a portrait of a dying era (that of power derived from brute force) being swallowed up by modernity (power derived from political influence and shady dealings). To bitch about the characters being given short shrift is kind of missing the point. Not that they're really shafted anyway -- there's a lot of rich character work as well. So you'll learn something while you watch Daniel Day-Lewis kick the shit out of everything that moves and Leo DiCaprio smolder and vow revenge. Entertainment plus education... is there anything Marty can't do? God bless him. (And bless Day-Lewis, too -- his scenery-chewing, eye-poppingly accomplished and well-modulated performance drags the film through some potential rough spots.)

Grade: A