Gangs Of New York (2002) Movie Information:

Gangs Of New York (2002) Directed by: Martin Scorsese Gangs Of New York (2002) Written by: Kenneth Lonergan, Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian, Herbert Asbury Gangs Of New York (2002) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jim Broadbent, John Reilly, Henry Thomas, Brendan Gleeson, Gary Lewis, Stephen Graham, Eddie Marsan

Gangs Of New York (2002) U.S. Distributor: Miramax Gangs Of New York (2002) U.K. Distributor: Buena Vista

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Gangs Of New York (2002) Synopsis:

In 1860's lower Manhattan, the Five Points section is a dark, teeming corner of the city known for vice and chaos. Into this frontier of lawlessness arrives the young Irish American, Amsterdam Vallon. Amsterdam is the orphaned son of the slain Priest Vallon--once chief warrior of the Dead Rabbits gang that rallied the Irish immigrants of the Five Points. After 16 years in a "House of Refuge," Amsterdam has returned to the Five Points to hunt down his father's killer. His target is William Cutting (aka "Bill the Butcher") who has since become the merciless new leader of the neighborhood and detests the newly arrived immigrants. Each year, on the anniversary of Priest Vallon's death, the victory is commemorated with a celebration--with invitations handed out by way of the Butcher himself. Amsterdam's plan is clear: to lie in wait and slay his father's killer. While waiting for that night, Amsterdam works his way deep into the Butcher's inner circle, a world of alternating honor and cruelty from which he can only hope to escape. But the closer he gets to Bill, the more he falls under his spell and becomes conflicted--playing the role of the man's surrogate son while keeping the true secret of his past in the shadows. At the same time, Amsterdam meets Jenny Everdeane, an enigmatic pickpocket whose fierce independence fascinates him. When details of her closely linked past with Bill the Butcher emerge, the relationship between the three intensifies. Amsterdam's fight for family honor, freedom and the woman he loves ultimately collides with a pivotal moment in New York and American history: the 1863 Civil War Draft Riots. This uprising, fueled by new Americans like Amsterdam, will have repercussions that will spread through the Five Points to the halls of Government and beyond, and reveal a tenacious spirit in the city that endures.

Gangs Of New York (2002) Movie Review:

Hidden within the colorful history of New York City, a dark period beckons. During that period men were savages and the streets were their war zone. It was a struggle for power through the blood of corruption.

Within that period, a displaced orphan, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio), returns to the Five Points within New York City. The Five Points is a section of New York’s seediest neighborhood where five roads converge onto a square. Many years ago, Vallon witnessed a battle for power between his father (Liam Neeson) and the leader of the American Natives, Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis). Young Vallon has vengeance steaming within his veins and his object is to take down Bill the Butcher at any cost. The problem is that things on the Five Points are never that simple.

Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese unleashes a world that history books seem to have neglected. Scorsese in fine form unlocks this world with such scope and presence. There is a lot of detail and time consumption in every scene shown. Even with the brutal street battles, Scorsese has found a way to bring forth majesty and passion to these streets. \

A friend of mine said that this film’s epic moments reminded him of Charles Dickens. I so agree on this assessment. In the work of Dickens, there was a lot treachery, backstabbing and struggles for power. If the world of Dickens were given a clubs, pikes and meat-cleavers then that would be the best description for "Gangs of New York".

The showcase of this blood-stained epic is the performance of Daniel Day-Lewis who eclipses his Oscar winning performance in "My Left Foot" when he embodies the sick, twisted and insane mind of Bill the Butcher. Not for one moment do you think this guy is anything but the Butcher. With other characters like Vallon and Cameron Diaz’s Jenny you can find yourself being transfixed on who they are behind the scenes instead of the roles they are playing.

I did find Leo engaging but I found it hard to separate Leo the actor from Vallon. Even after Vallon is broken and beaten to within an inch of his life. The makeup people let Leo heal to his "pretty-boy" self. This is even after Bill brands his face. I found that quite annoying. Muck up this actor then maybe we can believe more in him especially since his love for Jenny is based on their scarred struggle.

The least powerful performance of the piece is from Cameron Diaz. I found it very hard to accept her as a desperate woman. I partially bought her thief angle but thought that a better actress could have given Jenny a rawer quality. Her presence and performance in this movie reminded me a lot of how Heather Graham stuck out like a sore thumb in "From Hell". Diaz had a lot more to work with than Graham but Diaz never runs with it. It could have been a dynamite performance if she would have let go of her inhibitions and embraced the desperation within Jenny.

"Gangs of New York" is epic and grand moviemaking. There is a lot of risk in its execution and I think that could be its greatest triumph.

So Says the Soothsayer.

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Gangs Of New York (2002) review written by: Dean Kish