Gangs of New York riddled with errors, say critics

IT may be tipped for numerous Oscars but Gangs of New York could also be a hot favourite for top movie gaffes.

Busy big-screen watchers have already highlighted more than two dozen mistakes in Martin Scorsese’s latest blockbuster, which has received mixed reviews from film critics.

The epic tale of how Irish gangs helped shape New York City tells the story of Leonardo Di Caprio’s character Amsterdam Vallon seeking revenge against his father’s killer Bill the Butcher, played by Daniel Day-Lewis.

Running at almost three hours long, there were plenty of gaffes for buffs to pick up on.

As with most historical films, the incorrect number of stars on the US flag was the first mistake to be picked up on.

Gangs of New York, set in the early 1860s, features a flag on a wall bearing 50 stars long before the US had that many states.

During another scene set in 1863, Brooklyn Bridge is clearly visible. However, the bridge was not built until 1870.

At another point, Day-Lewis’ character refers to a nickel coin, but the first such five-cent piece was not made until at least three years after the movie’s setting.

During one of the love scenes, DiCaprio is seen dabbing the left side of his neck shortly after actress Cameron Diaz pokes him with a knife on the other side of his neck.

During a celebration scene, the level in Bill the Butcher’s drink appears to be different in each shot.

Some of the props used were also a cause for concern. In the middle of a riot scene, rocks thrown by rioters appear to bounce off the police’s heads and onto the ground without any effect.

Despite these gaffes, Scorsese can probably take some relief from the discovery of more than 140 mistakes in the New Year’s other big movie release.

The Two Towers, the second part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is ranked sixth in the website (moviemistakes.com) chart of movies with most mistakes.

Its predecessor from a year earlier, The Fellowship of the Ring, tops the chart with 188 errors.

Also making the top 10 are The Matrix, Titanic, Spiderman, both Harry Potter movies, Jurassic Park, The Fast and the Furious and Terminator 2.