Film Review #2

Gangs of New York by Martin Scorsese

1) Provide a description of the film.  Discuss the plot and characters and how they influenced the film.  Was the plot line or character development more important? Why?
Set in the 1860s New York, the movie was about Amsterdam Vallon, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who, when he was a boy, saw his father, Priest Vallon, killed by Bill Cutting, a.k.a. "The Butcher", in a gang war between foreigners and the natives.  After his death, Amsterdam went on to to grow up and 16 years later, returns to the same area his father was killed, known as the Five Points, to avenge his father's death, all the while the tensions of the Civil War are taking place and politics are in everyone's best interest.  This time, he goes undercover and works for Bill Cutting, only to attempt to kill him in the end.
 
The characters are what made the movie.  The plot was somewhat original, but basically the stock "His father was killed, the son wants revenge" sort of deal.  Amsterdam shows his growth as he learns the ways of his father, ironically, taught to him by his enemy, Bill Cutting.  In the end, Amsterdam becomes what his father was when Priest was leader of the "Dead Rabbits", Priest and Amsterdam Vallon's gang of foreigners.  Bill Cutting shows his growth from being young to growing older and looking desperately to find somewhere to pass his ideals on, which he does in Amsterdam.

2) Think critically about how the film was shot, directed, use of lighting, etc.  What do you think was effectively in making of the film?  What took away or could have been done differently to enhance the film?
The film was shot in a cartoonish way.  The characters were all dressed in a very vibrant clothes and large top hats.  Along with lighting with a yellowish tint and a set that looks almost like a stage on broadway.  Scorsese also uses a moving camera angle where it is the same shot, but rotates the view so the viewer doesn't get sick from the constant switching of camera angles.  Personally, I felt I was in the matrix when watching it, but it only added to the sense of tension and action.


3) What is your overall opinion of the film?  Would you recommend it?  Why/why not?
Overall, I would recommend it over and over.  It is a terrific film, one that has never been done before.  Gang movies have been done, but not in this major turning point of America's history where everything was changing.  The basic plot line is unoriginal, but the characters and setting are so refreshing, the plot line doesn't matter as much as the characters of Bill Cutting and Amsterdam Vallon and their next moves.

1) Describe one of Chaplin's films.
The film "Kids Auto Race at Venice" is a short silent film about a character, The Tramp, who fights for the attention of the camera, which is trying to film the auto race.  It mainly is shot from a still angle and the changing of angles is scarce.  Mostly one angle is used.


2) What do you notice about the style or directing of the film?
There was no very notable directing or stylistic characteristics, only the fact the Chaplin's "The Tramp" was being his usual self with his mischievous ways and exaggerated movements.  There were some scene edits, where the clip wasn't just one, whole, long scene but other than that, the film was


3) How do you think these traits relate to the silent film era?
One trait is it was shot from a still angle, just like Melies films.  It was black and white, had no sounds other than the orchestra background music.  Also, the characters are using exaggerated movements, which make up for the lack of sound and dialogue and gives the viewer and idea of what is going on.


4) What similar characteristics are you seeing in the silent films we have seen so far (Lumiere Brothers, Melies, Chaplin, Keaton)?
So far I see lots of exaggerated movements from the characters, along with some sort of slap-stick humor.  All are black and white, with either a piano or orchestra playing in the background some beat that corresponds to the action in the film.