Cameron-Diaz Movie Reviews

Ewan McGregor is fab, whatever he does. (Except maybe Phantom Menace.) He's a wonderful actor. Just had to get that out of the way. ^_^

I've heard this movie compared to Dogma, in the way that it's appeal varies dramaticlly, depending on what kind of person you are. It can either be very funny and witty, or too weird for certain tastes. The best way to tell if you like it, would be to watch it, and find out ^_^

This movie has some of my favorite quotes ever, (besides Romy and Michelle's Highschool Reunion...^_~) "If you don't pay up, I'm going to send your daughter home in... in boxes! Little boxes!" And once again, our beloved Ewan tries his hand at singing... a little 50's diner number with Cameron Diaz, in which they dance on the bar top.

This movie is not at all realistic. In fact, that's most of it's appeal. At the end of the movie, there is a clay-animation in which Ewan and Cameron Diaz fly away to Scotland in a little car. Realistic? I think not. But seeing the clay version of Ewan McGregor, (as well as all of the central charachters,) generates enough of a laugh to let you walk away with that fuzzy warm feeling. And as a dark comedy, it's a great way to end the movie.

Don't listen to cynics - definatley give this movie a chance!! ^_^

This is one of my favorite movies, but it is definitely not for everyone. You must be extremely forgiving of the strange plot involving evil and violent angels. I think that the idea is that the angels don't understand human beings or love, and therefore rely on "jeopardy" to force Celine and Robert to fall in love, but I could well be wrong.

However, the chemistry between Ewan and Cameron makes the movie. From a great scene in which the inept kidnapper tries to make his ransom demand from a telephone booth while his victim offers him encouragement and tips on how to sound more menacing, to an unforgettable karaoke number, A Life Less Ordinary delivers a quirky romance for those who are tired of trite recycled plots. To quote Robert, "We agreed--no cliches."

As a side note to Ewan McGregor fans, you MUST see this movie. It is definitely one of Ewan's best performances, and a nice break from his darker films.

This film is for those of us who are hopeless romantics in hiding. Eccentric, imaginative, deadpan, quick-pulsed, and beautifully hopeful. This film is not ment to be torn apart and analyzed as though it were an extremely deep David Lynch film. It is what it is: lighthearted, and less ordinary. The characters are odd enough to be slightly unpredictable (Holly Hunter especially). There are enough turns in the story to keep a kenetic and lively pace. As the title suggests, the events in the film are not typical in day to day living, in fact the events in this film are not typical in any life. It's a splendid fantasy in every aspect. I've watched this film countless times and I'm as fond of it now as I was when I saw it for the first time a handfull of years ago. Do yourself a favor and indulge in a life less ordinary.

Ewan McGregor is fab, whatever he does. (Except maybe Phantom Menace.) He's a wonderful actor. Just had to get that out of the way. ^_^

I've heard this movie compared to Dogma, in the way that it's appeal varies dramaticlly, depending on what kind of person you are. It can either be very funny and witty, or too weird for certain tastes. The best way to tell if you like it, would be to watch it, and find out ^_^

This movie has some of my favorite quotes ever, (besides Romy and Michelle's Highschool Reunion...^_~) "If you don't pay up, I'm going to send your daughter home in... in boxes! Little boxes!" And once again, our beloved Ewan tries his hand at singing... a little 50's diner number with Cameron Diaz, in which they dance on the bar top.

This movie is not at all realistic. In fact, that's most of it's appeal. At the end of the movie, there is a clay-animation in which Ewan and Cameron Diaz fly away to Scotland in a little car. Realistic? I think not. But seeing the clay version of Ewan McGregor, (as well as all of the central charachters,) generates enough of a laugh to let you walk away with that fuzzy warm feeling. And as a dark comedy, it's a great way to end the movie.

Don't listen to cynics - definatley give this movie a chance!! ^_^

This is one of my favorite movies, but it is definitely not for everyone. You must be extremely forgiving of the strange plot involving evil and violent angels. I think that the idea is that the angels don't understand human beings or love, and therefore rely on "jeopardy" to force Celine and Robert to fall in love, but I could well be wrong.

However, the chemistry between Ewan and Cameron makes the movie. From a great scene in which the inept kidnapper tries to make his ransom demand from a telephone booth while his victim offers him encouragement and tips on how to sound more menacing, to an unforgettable karaoke number, A Life Less Ordinary delivers a quirky romance for those who are tired of trite recycled plots. To quote Robert, "We agreed--no cliches."

As a side note to Ewan McGregor fans, you MUST see this movie. It is definitely one of Ewan's best performances, and a nice break from his darker films.

This film is for those of us who are hopeless romantics in hiding. Eccentric, imaginative, deadpan, quick-pulsed, and beautifully hopeful. This film is not ment to be torn apart and analyzed as though it were an extremely deep David Lynch film. It is what it is: lighthearted, and less ordinary. The characters are odd enough to be slightly unpredictable (Holly Hunter especially). There are enough turns in the story to keep a kenetic and lively pace. As the title suggests, the events in the film are not typical in day to day living, in fact the events in this film are not typical in any life. It's a splendid fantasy in every aspect. I've watched this film countless times and I'm as fond of it now as I was when I saw it for the first time a handfull of years ago. Do yourself a favor and indulge in a life less ordinary.

As a somewhat cautious viewer of in-your-face comedy I was a bit surprised by the level of enjoyment found in "The Mask". Jim Carrey's explosive energy works well as a zoot-suited Tex Avery cartoon character -- he stops at nothing when donning the ancient green mask. Unfortunately though, these times happen to be amoung the only few highlights of the film. There is not much in the way of plot or character development. The special effects that are used when the Mask is on screen are phenomanol, and are alone worth watching the film for. But if you're looking for more, check out the great soundtrack that accompanies the visual effects. Carrey's rendition of "Cuban Pete" is hilarious and with the revival of swing music, be sure not to miss the performance by Royal Crown Revue. It's smooookin!! Fans of Cameron Diaz will find her movie debut as Tina Carlyle, a sultry nightclub singer, the first in a long line of amazing performances. Another supporting character worth mentioning is Milo the dog, Carrey's nemesis. Whenever on camera, he steals the scene. (For a spectacular special effect check out Milo near the end). If your're looking for a fun, energy packed film without too much complication, you'll be sure to enjoy "The Mask". If your're not a big fan of Carrey's humor you may want to skip this one, but be assured, it's much easier to swallow than "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective". END

yeah i copied it from the simpson so what big deal wanna fight about it. i loved this movie but the only special features are deleted scenes and the trailer. and directors commentary. no behind the scenes or commentary by jim carrey. something like that would be great

The story is of Stanley, a bank officer, a 'nice guy' who always finishes last. At the lowest point of his desperation, he gets hold of the Mask, and with it, he becomes the Norse god of mischief. It allows him to do what ever he wanted to do with immunity. He finds an out let for his repressed angers (against the Car mechanics) and desires (to be with Cameroon). But the story takes a turn when the 'masked' Stanley runs up against some bank robbers and beats them to the loot....

I bought the DVD 5 years after I had first seen the movie at the theatre. I had a lot of fun watching it at the theatre, but I felt that watching it on DVD was even better. The masked version of Stanley (Jim Carrey) is almost cartoonish and brings out the inner most desires of Stanley (whose version of a good evening was to watch cartoons). The movie does bring out Carrey's best talents, and even more amazing was his and Cameroon Diaz's dance (which was not their talent before the movie). The part I love best is the 'Rumba beat' dance and when Stanley's dog gets hold of the mask.

The DVD has the director's commentary and some deleted scenes. The commentary does help in appreciating the effort that went behind the scenes, and having the DVD allows you to look scene by scene at the amazing amount of things that happen to the Masked characters in a short period, you get to look at some scenes carefully which you might have missed while watching it at a theatre.

The director hinted at a possible sequel to the Mask and I am still awaiting it! I am sure it's gonna be as 'Smokinn..' as this one.

yeah i copied it from the simpson so what big deal wanna fight about it. i loved this movie but the only special features are deleted scenes and the trailer. and directors commentary. no behind the scenes or commentary by jim carrey. something like that would be great

The movie had a dozen smiles and several laugh out loud moments and was enjoyable in every way. My 9 year old son has been watching this so I decided that I better check it out. I had always assumed I would not like it. Wrong. This movie is pure fun and has no nudity and I recall no foul language.

The story is simple, loser finds mask and gains confidence and power. Loses mask to the bad guy but keeps confidence and gets the girl. No r2d2 in this one, but it does have a dog.

I really liked this movie! I didn't want to watch it at
first and had to actually be talked into it. The title
seemed dumb and I didn't believe I would enjoy the storyline
but was I mistaken.
Jim Carrey does an excellent job as an actor, bringing to
life the personality of the 'mask'.....I feel this was
entertainment at its best and I highly recommend it if you
want a night of total movie enjoyment!

I thought this movie was TERRIBLE. Oh, the cast is fantastic but the story lines suck. They lead no-where, just like the pathetic and joyless lives of these women. These women's lives haven't "turned a corner", as one reviewer suggested, they just went to sleep after a terrible day(s). Not a single thread gets resolved, questions are raised, but never answered. And PLEASE, the "wise bag lady" cliche! Have the writers ever been close to a real homeless person? I seriously doubt it. This was one of the worst and most pointless movies I've ever seen. Save your money (and your time) and get something with some life in it.

If you like films which aren't rushed but take time to slowly reveal the people within them, you might just like this one - as I did. Rather than telling one main story, this movie reveals several different stories, each one centering on a particular woman. There's Holly Hunter playing a bank manager who unexpectedly finds herself 6 weeks pregnant and decides not to have the baby, Glenn Close as a doctor who isn't as together as she appears to the outside world, Calista Flockhart as a tarot card reader, etc. The subtle interactions between these women and the gradual unfolding of their lives made this film an absolute delight to me.

I stumbled across this film on cable and was drawn by the cast, as most people would be when they see this impressive roster of actresses. I must have seen the title of this film, but really did not pay attention to it. Of course, the title is key to this "anthology" field written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia (yes, believe it or not, this film was created by a male of the species). I picked up on this just by noticing how the first "segment" has Christine (Calista Flockhart) give Dr. Keener (Glenn Close) a tarot card reading while the second has Rebecca (Holly Hunter) a series of similarly disquieting encounters with a bag lady (Penelope Allen). Of course, the "who" and the "how" of the "just by looking" is different in each segment of the film, which is just part of the creative brilliance of this film.

"Thing You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her" is not one of those films where the pieces all fit together (e.g, is Robert married to Rebecca's doctor?), although the ending does try to suggest that each of the five main characters (add Kathy Baker as Rose and Amy Brenneman as Kathy to the above referenced actresses) have crossed a major bridge in their lives. Most of the characters appear in more than one segment, symbolism the inherent resonance between segments, and I liked the way one of the characters was both a "looker" and a "lookee" at different times in the film's narrative web. Another major strength of the film is how Garcia always goes off in an unexpected and unusual direction throughout the film. You are constantly surprised by what is happening, not to mention what is being said, which is often outrageously compelling.

Garcia is the son of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the Columbian writer who earned the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1982. I am sure that bit of biographical information helps to explain why Garcia crafted such an exquisite little film, but do not ask me to articulate why in any comprehensible way concerning the old nature verus nuture argument. The performances are uniformly superb: Holly Hunter was nominated for an Emmy, simply because this film was sold to Showtime instead of getting a traditional theatrical run. Hunter does have the best acting moment in the film, a scene in which she walks down the street (you will know it when you see it). Much was made of Cameron Diaz's performance as Carol, the blind sister of Kathy, but I recognized a while ago that Diaz is a "former model" who takes her acting craft and film choices very seriously. I think Calista Flockhart might be the actress who most impresses you. But as much as you will be impressed by the performances of these outstanding actresses, you have to be even most impressed by writer-director Garcia.

I am so glad I stumbled across this film. It has been quite a while since I have been this impressed by a film. I need to go check out more "independent" films, that is for sure.

...As far as the skits go, the best two are the first two and it's all downhill from there. The first one is the classic skit with Helen Hunt where her and David Spade are a couple of flight attendants. They are trying to get the people off of their plane as quickly and rudely as possible. "B-bye!!" The second skit is the one with Kirstie Alley in an Italian restaurant. The amorous employees of the restaurant become more and more affectionate toward Ms. Alley...much to the dismay of her husband (Kevin Nealon). It's very funny!

Alas, the rest of the tape has a few chuckles but I think the makers of the video knew what the best material was. They purposely put it first on the tape to get you quickly into a laughing mood. Skits involving the "Copy Guy" (Schneider) and Dick Clark's obnoxious receptionist (Spade) may have been a cute idea many years ago but they now seem painfully dated and unfunny.

As far as Farley and Rock go? Ouch! I am not commenting on their abilities as comedians. I am simply letting you know that the material chosen for this tape is not even close to being their best stuff. Look elsewhere if you want to see their comedic talents.

All in all, this tape is a lot like the TV show. There are a few big hits but way too many misses...

This compilation of material from Saturday Night Live features skits with Chris Farley, David Spade, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, and Chris Rock, as well as appearances by Helen Hunt, Kirstie Alley, Sara Gilbert, Phil Hartman, Mike Myers, Sting, Roseanne, Jeff Daniels, Alec Baldwin, Christina Applegate, Sean Penn, Steve Martin, Shannon Doherty, Glenn Close, and David Duchovny.
The problem with skits is that they usually are an extended one joke; there is no structural arc or payoff, which is true of what is presented here. However, as most of the skits are short, there is generally more hit than miss.
The studio audience's howls of homophobic derision at Alec Baldwin with Adam Sandler in Canteen Boy Goes Camping is pretty hard to take, though the parody of heterosexual behaviour in beer commercials in Schmitt's Gay is less offensive. I liked Spade, Sandler and Farley in drag as Gap mall girls; how Roseanne steals from Spade as Dick Clark Productions obstructive receptionist; Farley's self-conscious interviewing of Jeff Daniels; Spade's parody of Michael J Fox to Sean Penn; Rock's editorial comments which are edited into a montage; Spade's montage of Hollywood Minutes; Sandler's Operaman; and 5 reasons not to see Whoopi Goldberg's new movie in Rock's Nat X.
Regrettably we cut away from Steve Martin before he does anything to Spade giving a bad review of Martin's Leap of Faith, and Doherty makes her reading her lines from cue cards strangely obvious.
It's interesting to observe this group of comedians in their early years, before they graduated into TV sitcoms and film careers.

This is the best SNL movie other than the best of CHRIS FARLEY.

There's Something About Mary (1998) Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, Lee Evans, Chris Elliot, Lin Shaye, D: Bobby and Peter Farrelly. Brace-face softy/nerd Stiller finally gets the confidence of asking the girl of his dreams-a friendly knockout named Mary (Diaz)-to go to the prom, but an accident that leaves him incapacitated-physically and mentally-keeps him from seeing her again. Thirteen years pass, and he hires a sleazy undercover agent (Dillon) to track her down, who falls for her as well. Overly hyped moron-comedy, a Farelly Brothers collaboration that crosses DUMB AND DUMBER turf, is outrageous for two hours (having characters not trying to be funny but encountering embarrassments), and definitely hits the "gross guardrails". Diaz is more appealing than most as she smiles as much as possible, and Stiller and Dillon are very funny. Don't forget the unforgettable "hair-gel" gag ("Is that hair-gel?") and the zipper scene ("Is it the frank or the beans?"). Running Time: 119 minutes and rated R for nudity, crude sexual humor and language.

The Farrelly Brothers strike again with this gut splitting, knee slapping comedy that is sure to become a comedy classic. Cameron Diaz stars as Mary, the all around special girl that every guy is immediatley drawn too. As the title says, there's just something about Mary. Ben Stiller plays an old high school friend who was to take Mary to the prom, when an unfortunate zipper accident occurs in her house. We jump forward years later and Stiller enlists the help of private eye Matt Dillon to find Mary for him. While he does this, Dillon falls in love with her himself. Ben Stiller is a master at this. Look at all his work and you'll see why. Matt Dillon shines in a hilarious role that shows his not much seen comedic side. Cameron Diaz is funny, but not the funniest. She also needs to eat something. Fast. The real standout was Earl Brown as Mary's retarded Brother, and Lin Shaye as Magda, Mary's apartment manager. The film goes from one hysterical joke to another. I couldn't stop laughing. It's also always nice to see Chris Elliot on the screen. This is a non-stop gas that is sure to entertain all. Watch out for that hair gel scene. You've been warned. Go ahead and have a good laugh.

This movie is absolutely a sid splitter! The farrely brothers are the perfect people to do a slap-stick comedy! This moive almost made me die of laughter when I saw it in theaters. The things that they did to Ted was just hilarious!
In highschool, Ted lost a chance at happiness with Mary when he got his....junk...stuck in his zipper and now has to be in councling for it, and the doctor doesn't even care...so he hires a detective to find Mary so he can be wiht her. It turns out the guy it a real sleeze and lies to Ted telling him Mary is fat, has many kids and has just been shiped to Japan for a mail order bride. So Ted takes matters into his own hands and goes to Miami to meet her. And so the story unfolds Ted trying to win Mary over while other off the wall lovers of Mary come out and confess love for her.
A truely funny movie that will have anyone and everyone in stitches byu the time the movie is over and this edition as so many features that you can go even deeper into the comedy of this timeless movie!

There's Something About Mary (1998) Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon, Lee Evans, Chris Elliot, Lin Shaye, D: Bobby and Peter Farrelly. Brace-face softy/nerd Stiller finally gets the confidence of asking the girl of his dreams-a friendly knockout named Mary (Diaz)-to go to the prom, but an accident that leaves him incapacitated-physically and mentally-keeps him from seeing her again. Thirteen years pass, and he hires a sleazy undercover agent (Dillon) to track her down, who falls for her as well. Overly hyped moron-comedy, a Farelly Brothers collaboration that crosses DUMB AND DUMBER turf, is outrageous for two hours (having characters not trying to be funny but encountering embarrassments), and definitely hits the "gross guardrails". Diaz is more appealing than most as she smiles as much as possible, and Stiller and Dillon are very funny. Don't forget the unforgettable "hair-gel" gag ("Is that hair-gel?") and the zipper scene ("Is it the frank or the beans?"). Running Time: 119 minutes and rated R for nudity, crude sexual humor and language.

The Farrelly Brothers strike again with this gut splitting, knee slapping comedy that is sure to become a comedy classic. Cameron Diaz stars as Mary, the all around special girl that every guy is immediatley drawn too. As the title says, there's just something about Mary. Ben Stiller plays an old high school friend who was to take Mary to the prom, when an unfortunate zipper accident occurs in her house. We jump forward years later and Stiller enlists the help of private eye Matt Dillon to find Mary for him. While he does this, Dillon falls in love with her himself. Ben Stiller is a master at this. Look at all his work and you'll see why. Matt Dillon shines in a hilarious role that shows his not much seen comedic side. Cameron Diaz is funny, but not the funniest. She also needs to eat something. Fast. The real standout was Earl Brown as Mary's retarded Brother, and Lin Shaye as Magda, Mary's apartment manager. The film goes from one hysterical joke to another. I couldn't stop laughing. It's also always nice to see Chris Elliot on the screen. This is a non-stop gas that is sure to entertain all. Watch out for that hair gel scene. You've been warned. Go ahead and have a good laugh.

This movie is absolutely a sid splitter! The farrely brothers are the perfect people to do a slap-stick comedy! This moive almost made me die of laughter when I saw it in theaters. The things that they did to Ted was just hilarious!
In highschool, Ted lost a chance at happiness with Mary when he got his....junk...stuck in his zipper and now has to be in councling for it, and the doctor doesn't even care...so he hires a detective to find Mary so he can be wiht her. It turns out the guy it a real sleeze and lies to Ted telling him Mary is fat, has many kids and has just been shiped to Japan for a mail order bride. So Ted takes matters into his own hands and goes to Miami to meet her. And so the story unfolds Ted trying to win Mary over while other off the wall lovers of Mary come out and confess love for her.
A truely funny movie that will have anyone and everyone in stitches byu the time the movie is over and this edition as so many features that you can go even deeper into the comedy of this timeless movie!

Charlie's Angels is an exciting, entertaining film, if a bit stupid and unoriginal. But thanks to its willingness to make fun of itself, it manages to be a lot more endurable than it could've been otherwise. Overall, it's a very good action romp.

First of all, the whole film is a parody. Every time the film employs cheesy '70s-esque montage sequences, every time the camera goes wicked slow when the girls toss their hair, and every time an action scene comes up (which takes things from films like The Matrix, Mission: Impossible, and True Lies), it's all a parody. In that sense, this is a funny movie. It has great self-awareness, and doesn't mind shamelessly exploiting its three central stars (Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu) in every way possible. And Bill Murray, as always, is funny and goofy as Bosley.

However, the humor does get annoying sometimes. How many times do we have to see the same old girly-giggle jokes, like when Cameron Diaz is interrupted in a fight by a call from her boyfriend? Even if things like that are still meant as spoof, they aren't funny.

As for the story, I'll only mention it in passing, because it's not the focus of the film and it's quite bad anyway. The plot overall seems taken from a bad Bond film: secret agents get assigned top-secret mission vital to ensuring the safety of the world, and then the "least likely" person turns out to be the antagonist (or, as Barrymore's angel once exclaims, "he's the bad guy!"). There are subplots involving the three angels falling in love, which seem pointless to the film and only provide some of the stupid girly humor I just mentioned above.

Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu are fine. As far as acting goes, there's nothing good, but as far as monopolizing on male fantasy, they're skillful. Too bad some people will only see this film for that reason alone, because it is those people that this film makes fun of the most. (Still, I suppose it's required of me to comment on which Angel is my favorite. Well, as far as I'm concerned, Drew Barrymore. There you go.)

I must mention a very pleasant surprise delight in this film: Crispin Glover, aka Mr. McFly from the Back to the Future series. He is simply awesome in this film. He doesn't speak a word, but he has a presence about him that electrifies the screen when he's on. It's partly comedic, and partly serious. The way he manages to look pathetic and threatening at the same time, how he brings a weird and quirky element to his character is great. He looks in command and at the same time paranoid of everything. He's my favorite performance in this film along with Murray.

The action is very good, obviously the best part of the film: zany flips, kicks, chases, and explosions all covered by the interesting, if ripped-off, cinematography. Of course, the martial arts scenes are the best. I have to say that it is a compliment both to this film and, even more so, the film it lifts this from (The Matrix) that the action here, even though meant as mere parody, still remains quite entertaining and visually intense. You can thank the source film for that. If you like the action here, and I don't see why you wouldn't, and if you haven't seen The Matrix, you should. You'll be blown away. But I digress.

In closing, the problem with films like Charlie's Angels (besides awful plot) is that, even though the action is fun, none of it is its own. The action can be good, but it can never be called great, simply because it's not original. It's the tragic flaw. But that doesn't prevent the film from being fun in and of itself. It's a good time.

This takeup of the 1970s TV show is absolutely delightful, with comedy and high-paced action. Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu are wonderfully cast as the three Angels, three elite women who rescue high-tech programmer (Sam Rockwell) from a egomaniac (Tim Curry). Also, Bosley is played delightfully by Bill Murray, who makes most of the comic relief. Good action sequences, lots of comic relief make this high-paced feminine movie enjoyable. Includes cameos by Luke Wilson (who plays Diaz's boyfriend and also co-starred with Barrymore in "Home Fries") and Tom Green as Barrymore's beau in the movie (his cameo is better than his recent gross-out humor roles in "Road Trip" and especially "Freddy Got Fingered" which Barrymore makes a cameo in this movie also). Wonderful, but slightly campy and air-headed version of the TV show. Rated PG-13, for violence, innueudo, and for some nudity.

This is a great movie! The action is plentiful and visually effective. Speaking of visually great, check out Drew Barrymore! Ow Ow! A lot of critics said this movie was just babes with no plot. But realistically, the plot is simple, yet interesting. The angels have to find electronic equipment that is "Stolen": big twist at the end. I really recommend this movie to anyone who likes action and fun! Great gift or stocking stuffer!

Overshadowed by the controversy over lobbying for Academy Award nominations, Gangs of New York is a visually stunning but flawed minor classic from director Martin Scorsese. The film concerns a forgotten period in New York City's history when a variety of gangs controlled the five corners area. Corrupt politicians, the draft (for the Civil War) and a massive wave of immigrants created a turbulent environment. A huge anti-immigrant campaign helped fuel the many conflicts between the various gangs. Scorsese also incorporates a real riot that occuried during this time. The riot required army troops to come in and prevent further looting and murder.

The basic story focuses on the conflict between two rival groups--the Natives led by Bill "the Butcher" and the Dead Rabbits an Irish immigrant group led by "Priest" (Liam Neeson). Their conflict leads to the death of Priest witnesses by his young son Amsterdam (later played by Leonard DiCaprio). The Butcher arranges to have the child sent to a Reform school where he's raised by Catholic Priests.

Upon his release Amsterdam goes looking for Bill with revenge his primary goal. What Amsterdam finds is a changed world; the Natives control much of the corrupt police force and politicians in the five corners area. Bill is well regarded and, in fact, many of the Priest's old gang members work for Bill now. Amsterdam eventually meets Bill and is treated like a son by Bill. This creates a considerable conflict as Amsterdam has developed a gruding respect for the terrifying Butcher. His life is further complicated when he becomes involved with a woman (Cameron Diaz)who was saved by the Butcher as a child.

The production design is stunning capturing a time in New York's history that had been long forgotten by many of its residents. The shacks, stores and buildings that make up the five corners area have an authentic appearence to them. Scorsese and his production designer Dante Ferretti manage to make the audience not only feel the environment but taste and smell it as well. Director of photography Michael Ballhaus lighting brings a rustic feel to the environment.

The major problem with the film is the screenplay. It clearly passed through a number of hands besides the three screenwriters credited (Jay Cocks, Steven Zallian and Kenneth Lonergon). The first two-thirds of the film are classic Scorsese; there's a vibrantcy to the script missing from the last third. That's the problem with the film--it's two-thirds a classic. During the last act the film literally falls apart and is very narratively disjoined. It's clear that Scorsese had a much longer cut of the film in mind; there's a lot that appears to be missing from the film cut, no doubt, to make the already long running time (167 minutes) functional for a movie theater. Since this is the DVD edition, I'm surprised that Scorsese didn't go back and recut the film adding extended dramatic sequences that might have made the last third a stronger act.

The acting by Daniel Day-Lewis (completely immersed in his character of Bill) is stunning. His falt, slightly rounded New York accent is as much a part of the character as can be imagined. The rest of the cast give varying performances with varying success when it comes to their Irish accents. Leonard DiCaprio makes a valient attempt to equal Day-Lewis but ultimately comes up slightly short of the perfection of Day-Lewis' performance. Still, he's believable in the role and manages to command your attention when he's on screen.

Cameron Diaz also makes a game attempt with her role. Her character really doesn't come to life until the middle of the film. Henry Thomas (E.T., Psycho 4) gives a memorable and solid performance as Amsterdam's friend. It's a role that could have been pushed into the shadows by the lead character but Thomas invests his character with a quiet, powerful presence.

Scorsese's direction is sharp and it's clear he's thought long and hard about how he wanted to present this picture. His confident direction keeps the momentum of the film from dragging and, until the last act, he knows exactly where he's going and what he's trying to achieve.

The DVD transfer is, generally, exceptional. The picture is nearly flawless with few of the digital compression problems that have marred similarly epic films. There's virtually no analog artifacts and the print used here is crisp, clear and clean. The 5.1 sound mix and is also representative of what you might have heard in the theater. There were some problems with the discs. The first disc ends rather abruptly. There's a scene on the second disc where the music is mixed a bit too loud for the sequence and there appears to be other sounds leaking through the mix that shouldn't be there.

The extras are profuse. There's a nicely done costume design feaurette and a sequence where the audience can explore the sets for the film. Additionally, there's a documentary (originally shown on The Discovery Channel)that focuses on this little known time from New York's past. It's much more than a glorified promo for the film. Scorsese's commentary is, shall we, say effusive and interesting. His intelligent comments and observations make the film come alive a second time. While I like U2, I could have done without the music video and would much rather have seen an a couple of interviews with Day-Lewis and other cast members on their craft.

While it's a flawed film, Gangs of New York captures Scorsese in top form throughout most of the film. If the film doesn't hang together the way it should, it's probably due to the fact that Scorsese had to trim more from the film than he would have liked (how else to explain Neeson's appearence in what amounts to a glorified cameo?). Scorsese takes considerable risk in telling the type of story that isn't in vogue with Hollywood any longer. Gangs is an intelligent, well acted drama with a larger than life performance by Daniel Day-Lewis that makes up for some of the films shortcomings. I'd suggest renting it first and, if you like it, move on to purchasing it.

Any new film by Mr Scorsese is cause for celebration and Gangs of New York is no exception. True - Ms Diaz and Mr DiCaprio are well and truly out of their depth and cast for their "star' quality on the likely insistence of producers - but they are a minor distraction. The cinematic wealth in this film is considerable, not least the mis en scene, writing, direction, costumes and editing. But the exceptional cast of actors is quite special including the wonderful Mr John C. Reilly, Mr Broadbent and many many "minor" roles which add up to a delicious mixture of society as viewed through the prism of Mr Cocks et al. The film is, at the very least, a potent social portrait of mid-19th century New York. The praise for Mr Day-Lewis is well earned as he gives a rivetting, sustained and memorable portrait of Bill Cutting. The extras especially those involving Mr Scorsese are excellent.

I'm a sucker for a good historical film. It does my heart good to see movies like Master and Commander, The Alamo, and The last Samurai coming out this fall. I thought that the idea of Martin Scorsese stepping away from his usual fare of mobsters and lunatics (no disrespect meant to these films) to make a film about Civil War era New York City should prove interesting if nothing else.

The story of Gangs of New York begins in 1846 when two large gangs try to settle the score for once and all. The first gang is the Dead Rabbits who are led by Priest Vallon (in a short but fine performance by Liam Neeson). The Rabbits are composed mostly of Irish immigrants who are fed up with the hatred and discrimination they are forced to deal with constantly. The other gang is the Nativists led by William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis in top form). The ensuing battle leaves the snow-covered streets a deep red and results in Vallon's death. Cutting, now the undisputed boss of all gang activity, no longer allows any mention of the words "Dead Rabbits" to solidify his dominance. A young Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) witnesses his father's bloody murder, flees, and lives in exile for 16 years. Upon his return to a New York City that is torn asunder with racism, corruption, and a Civil War Draft that threatens to erupt into a conflagration of nearly Biblical proportions; Amsterdam has one thing on his mind: revenge. He seeks to infiltrate Cutting's powerful organization in order to "kill the king in his court".

The real strength of GoNY is its performances. As I said earlier in my review, Neeson and Day-Lewis are great as two bitter rivals. What I really liked was how Cutting always spoke respectfully about Vallon after killing him. A lot of people complained about Dicaprio being miscast. Many say he was awkward and had a dazed look on his face. Well, that's the point. Vallon was basically a young hotheaded punk who had a lot to learn about life. I say without shame that DiCaprio did a good job playing that character. Yet there is one wasted performance: Cameron Diaz. I think she was only in GoNY to provide a love interest for DiCaprio. It wasn't her fault that her character was so poorly realized. But other than Diaz, a fine ensemble with dialogue as sharp as one of Cutting's knives.

GoNY may look a overblown and pretentious when compared to other Scorsese films like Taxi Driver. Yet it tells of a forgotten and important chapter about New York City that to this day remains relevant in this post September 11th world in which we live. It tells of a city that survives and prospers in the face of corruption, hatred, and other calamities. Even those of us who don't live in New York City need to remember this and apply it to our own hometowns.

Overall rating: 4.5 stars