It is a stunning example of the stupidity of humans that this movie has recieved so much acclaim, been nominated for a million Oscars, etc. I was surprised to see this type of movie from Scorcese, who has made some clunkers, but never any as meat-headed as this one.

So what is wrong with it? You could talk about the completely cartoonish dialogue and character development, DiCaprio’s stilted acting, the goofball narrative. You could talk about the film’s embrace of the most inane historical-action-epic’s most trist cliches. You could even talk about the humorously bad chemistry between Cameron Diaz and DiCaprio. Most damning, however, is the film’s continued reliance throughout its 25 hours or so on the gimmick of its setting. The period is certainly an interesting setting, and the thrill of seeing a familiar place like New York City from a different view certainly is a kick, but the movie relies on this trick again and again and again and again. It’s almost like Scorcese is sitting next to you, prodding you with his elbow going, “Get it? Get it? It’s New York IN THE PAST! How about that, eh? Eh? Eh?”

Don’t waste your time.