gangs of new york

[boobesque]

is this film an accurate representation of new york during the times it is meant to be based?

[steve @ home]

it's as accurate as the portrayals of Victorian London in movies like Oliver Twist.

scorsese is a master storyteller and uses every element of film making to get his story across to you.

he is not trying to give you a crash course in american history

[jake-the-peg]

I read the same book that scorsese read which inspired him to make the film. It's pretty remarkable in that it's a non-fiction account of most of the personalities about at the time. I think it was written in about 1930 when there were still some people about who remembered the period if youre interested it's here

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0099436744/qid=1130851152/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_10_2/026-3622632-4862069

Scorcese's mixed a few characters about for dramatic effect and he doesn't give you a feel of the utter squalour but most of his characters are taken straight from the book and while some of the dates of the events have had a few liberties taken with but I'd say it's not far off the mark

[coyn]

Take Daniel Day Lewis out of this film and it is meaningless rubbish, even with him in it, it's not that much of a story and not that well told.

[jake-the-peg]

Exactly how do you reach that conclusion coyn?

How does Daniel Day Lewis give the film meaning?

[Goodsoulette]

no idea but daniel day lewis's trosers...fabulous.....they deserved an oscar

[coyn]

What I should have said Jake that DDL carried the film in my opinion but I still didn't rate it much