| A Description of the Set, Cinecitta |
by Marco Balbi December 1, 2000 Übersetzung des Artikel aus "Ciak", wo diese ersten GONY-Fotos weiter unten erschienen sind - thanks to fronny! This is the article that describes the set and the movie's background; this was written by a movie expert..I'm not, so please forgive me for any mistake or misunderstanding..It was translated with pure passion:) Here it goes; He's embarked on to another "titanic"experience,Leonardo,he who,only 21 teen idol brought into the sleepy movie world the electrifying euphoria of music fandom. On helm,this time is Martin Scorsese,from Little Italy,NY,probably the world's best living director,never awarded with an Oscar. Just like DiCaprio,in fact,"king of the world"by popular frenzy aged not more than 20,left with no crown in the famous Oscar night,2 years ago.... Gangs of New York,the movie Scorsese's been shooting in Cinecitta'for 2 months,with Leonardo in the lead role could well be,for both of them,the right occasion, the almost impossible bet,the challenge that sweeps every obstacle away and,in the end,triumphs. Premises are all there,already surrounded by a legendary aura. A huge set that looks like a dream halfway through Fellini's "E la nave va"and Leone's "Once upon a time in America";official budget$90 millions,but it will exceed $100 millions;a 6 months shooting;a massacrating and extremely tight working schedule. A few steps away from the much talked about Big Brother bunker,it's the quiet kingdom of "to the nth power" moviemaking,where movies like Titanic,for example,are made. And,as a balance to 24/7 thoughtlessness and stupidity,comes a story that's deeply urban and tribal,about gangs and blood,death and revenge,emigration and organized crime.Pure,100% Scorsese. Yet,a period movie,mid'800,set in last century's asphaltless mean streets,facing a frantic harbour where ships,heavy with desperates in search of luck,feed the misery of the Five Points,the story's setting section. If we're to believe rumours spreading around,GONY would ideally make a diptych together with "The age of innocence";from the wealthy society where the war of love's fought against and with social prejudices and slyness,Scorsese descends again in the town's womb,where sanguinary gangs fight with knives against each other to conquer territory. There's no age of innocence here,if young Amsterdam,played by Leonardo DiCaprio,is forced to take part in his father's murder,and is released,after years of orphanage and reformatory,full of hate and yearning to revenge. A gangster movie,naturally,like the title promises but a Western as well,with the gangs called Dead Rabbits and Native Americans,and,finally,an urban epic,where we'll be treated to echoes of classic tragedy,with man to man fights that would suit the Iliad,in a New York burning and flaming like ancient Troy. Like this,insiders say,will appear the fight between Amsterdam and the ferocious Bill The Butcher,leader of the Native Americans,and played by Daniel Day-Lewis. In this strong,manly world,shines only one all-round feminine presence;it's charming and freethinking Jenny, a thief,played by Cameron Diaz.With her,Amsterdam's bound to fall in mad love,and she,like the two New York warriors has a gang of her own. Made of authentic Bad Girls. |
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