Despite being the great cinematic artist of our time, it was a long road before Martin Scorsese inspired financial confidence in the people bankrolling his vision. His films never cost more than $50 million to make until Gangs of New York came along with a $100 million dollar budget. This finally allowed Scorsese to take a big cinematic swing, which is exactly what he did. Of course, big swings can leave you admiring the technique of individual departments more than the overall film. There was some unfortunate casting done to secure the money, but also Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher, whose energy level starts where Daniel Plainview ends. Gangs also marks a different unfortunate trend for Scorsese films. Nominated for 10 Oscars, it took home zero, something that would also happen with The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon.
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