2002: Gangs of New York
Nominees:
- Chicago (actual winner)
- Gangs of New York
- The Hours
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- The Pianist
We should be talking about Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance as Bill “the Butcher” Cutting with the same reverence and hushed tones reserved for his turns as Daniel Plainview or Abraham Lincoln. About halfway through the film Bill, draped in the American flag, thrones himself next to a half-awake Leonardo DiCaprio and delivers a hypnotic monologue about fear and the last honorable man in the New World. It is worth the price of admission alone.
Gangs of New York is not Scorcese’s greatest work, and it is at times uneven or unsure of what it is trying to say. And yes, Cameron Diaz’s Irish accent is…unfortunate. But the good significantly outweighs the (arguably) bad. An excellent ensemble cast, stunning production design, and a singular performance elevates this above any of the other nominees this year.
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