I've certainly no great love for the acting skills of Leonardo Dicaprio, or any work that features him prominently. The upcoming Gangs of New York was to be no exception to that rule. However, the History Channel, in the latest of its ongoing cross-promotional History Vs. Hollywood shows, just featured the film. The hour long commercial was basically a lesson on 19th century New York's infamous Five Points neighborhood interspersed with clips from the film. And you know what, their vile synergistic marketing strategy worked on me.

It looks like a good movie. Lots o' old fashioned ultra-violence and proddie-papist tension. Daniel Day-Lewis' character looks particularly cool. The Leo-Cameron Diaz subplot reeks of shitty romance, but, hey, they've got to give the girly titanic crowd something, right? Anyways, the promotional machine has effectively influenced this monkey.

Speaking of the History Channel, the new show Conquest, hosted by actor Peter Woodward, rocks. Definitely check it out if you're channel surfing.