# Gangs of New York: A glorified "Far and Away"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 17, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338 "2002-12-17T15:02:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/1 "2002-12-17T15:02:48Z")
I don’t understand the hype about this movie. It doesn’t look good, interesting, or new. Scorsese has lost a step or two, and I think people are going to walk out of the theater as disappointed as they were with the Ron Howard turdfest that was “Far and Away.” Just because we’re slapping some dirt on pretty people doesn’t make it believable as a period piece about commoners. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/2 "2002-12-17T15:15:26Z")
I don’t know. The point of each movie seems quite difference. “Far and Away” is more of one of those ‘immigrants come to America to make something of themselves after a struggle’ kinda movies like “An American Tale” and “Coming to America”. This one seems to be pretty far from that. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/3 "2002-12-17T15:16:36Z")
Oh, I wont really know until I see this movie. Maybe next week. Maybe after Christmas. I’m not chomping at the bit to see it. ---
**Author:** ![alexandria2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f1d935/32.png) [@alexandria2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandria2000)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/4 "2002-12-17T16:43:18Z")
I have the book it’s based on - it’s a nice historical study of the gangs of early New York. I _might_ go see the movie after I’m done. But it’s definitely answering some of the questions I had after reading “The Big Book of Thugs”. (Yes, that is an actual book.) 🙂 -A2K ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/5 "2002-12-17T17:05:33Z")
“Far and Away” was directed by Ron Howard, a competent. popular director. “Gangs of New York” was diected by Martin Scorsese, a cinematic genius and a member of the pantheon of Kubrick, Hitchcock, Fellini, and Kurosawa. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/6 "2002-12-17T18:00:58Z")
I’m also skeptical because of the many production problems and studio mandates which have plagued the film and delayed the release date so long. Neither is a good sign. But then, _Apocalypse Now_ had more production problems than any other film in history, so you never know. I’m also leary that Miramax made him cut 1 hour 20 minutes, and it _still_ clocks in at 2 hours 40 minutes. It could be one slow moving and long winded movie, yet still have plot holes. My guess is it will probably be closer in quality to his _Casino_ than it will be to the far superior _Goodfellas_. Watchable, but ultimately mediocre. I’m going to wait for it on video because I think _Gangs of New York_ will be seriously overrated because of Scorsese’s earlier work. Well, that and I have an irrational hatred for Leonardo Dicaprio. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/7 "2002-12-17T18:07:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gobear \* > \*\*“Far and Away” was directed by Ron Howard, a competent. popular director. > > “Gangs of New York” was diected by Martin Scorsese, a cinematic genius and a member of the pantheon of Kubrick, Hitchcock, Fellini, and Kurosawa. \*\* Yes, but that still doesn’t make “Bringing Out the Dead” or “Eyes Wide Shut” good movies. There are great cinematic movies made by mediocre directors as well as baboon-feces-art made by brilliant directors. I’m not comparing GONY to “Bio Dome”, but I’m not giving this particular film the benefit of the doubt. I’ll certainly be willing to concede if it turns out to be wonderful, especially since I haven’t seen it. ---
**Author:** ![AnnaLivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@AnnaLivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnaLivia)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/8 "2002-12-17T18:38:30Z")
I look forward to GONY for one reason- Liam Neeson possibly may cease to suck again. He’s a talented actor, historicals seem to like him (I think I was all six people he refers to in interview as having seen “Michael Collins” in the theatre.) and it may redeem him from such things as “Gun Shy” and…coughhack_EpisodeOne_cough. I think the thing that may kill it for me is DiCaprio. I’ve got no doubt about Scorcese. _hijack_ and I **liked** “Bringing Out the Dead.” But I was also a morbid little puppy at the time. AL ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/9 "2002-12-17T19:00:28Z")
Are you shitting me??? This is my most anticipated film of the year! A great cast, an amazing director, a powerful story - it’s already receiving critical acclaim! It’s got Best Picture written all over it! ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2002, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gangs-of-new-york-a-glorified-far-and-away/143338/10 "2002-12-17T19:05:34Z")
I liked Bringing Out the Dead only for John Goodman and Ving Rhames. And the hospital security guard (“Don’t make me take off my glasses!”) For a then-real-life-married couple, Nicholas Cage and Patricia Arquette had zero chemistry. I probably won’t see Gangs until video or even cable–I’ve gotten less into going to the movies lately–but Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance is awfully tempting; he seems to already be in the running for at supporting actor. I also share the irrational hatred for Leonardo DiCaprio, which may factor into my decision to see it or not.