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Oscar Week ’09: My Favourite Non-Winners – Gangs of New York

gangs of new york posterWhen Chicago won Best Picture in 2003, it was the only time that the Best Picture winner annoyed me. I though that ever other film nominated that year (including The Hours, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Pianist) was more deserving of the win and I was personally rooting for this film.

This was of the first of the (so far) three collaborations between and and I have to say that it is my favourite of the bunch (though The Departed comes a close second).

The film deals with gang warfare in the early days of New York City, which centered around Irish immigrants fighting against the so-called “Natives.” The story is fictional, though it contains some characters based on real individuals, such as Boss Tweed and Bill the Butcher (played wonderfully by ).

It probably wouldn’t be too much of a guess to say that the political climate at the time (the ceremony happened right at the start of the Iraq War) prevented a violent film like this to win at the Oscars, however in my book, this film was the best film of 2002.

10/10

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    Sean Patrick Kelly

    Sean Patrick Kelly is a Toronto-based freelance film critic and blogger with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies from York University. Since founding his site in 2004, Sean has shared his passion for cinema through insightful reviews and commentary. His work has also been featured in prominent outlets, including Toronto Film Scene, HuffPost Canada, Screen Anarchy, ScreenRant, and Rue Morgue Magazine.

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