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Gangs of New York (2002)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
20 December 2002 (USA) moreTagline:
America Was Born In The Streets.Plot:
In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father's killer. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 10 Oscars. Another 32 wins & 59 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(125 articles)
Graham: 'I was chased by paps with DiCaprio' (From digitalspy. 21 May 2009, 7:16 AM, PDT)
DiCaprio, Depp vie for Sinatra role?
(From digitalspy. 15 May 2009, 3:31 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Terrific Entertainment! moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Leonardo DiCaprio | ... | Amsterdam Vallon | |
| Daniel Day-Lewis | ... | Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting | |
| Cameron Diaz | ... | Jenny Everdeane | |
| Jim Broadbent | ... | William 'Boss' Tweed | |
| John C. Reilly | ... | Happy Jack Mulraney | |
| Henry Thomas | ... | Johnny Sirocco | |
| Liam Neeson | ... | 'Priest' Vallon | |
| Brendan Gleeson | ... | Walter 'Monk' McGinn | |
| Gary Lewis | ... | McGloin | |
| Stephen Graham | ... | Shang | |
| Eddie Marsan | ... | Killoran | |
| Alec McCowen | ... | Reverend Raleigh (as Alec Mccowen) | |
| David Hemmings | ... | Mr. Schermerhorn | |
| Larry Gilliard Jr. | ... | Jimmy Spoils | |
| Cara Seymour | ... | Hell-Cat Maggie |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for intense strong violence, sexuality/nudity and language.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
167 minColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
USA:R (certificate #39927) | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Brazil:18 | New Zealand:R16 | India:A | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Israel:PG | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | Peru:14 | Philippines:R-18 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (uncut) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:18 | Greece:K-17Fun Stuff
Trivia:
During the scene at the Chinese theater, Bill the Butcher calls for his boys to play some "American music" and extols it as "patriotic." The tune they play is "Garry Owen," a Gaelic drinking tune, which became the official song of the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, chock full of Irishmen and infamous for their defeat, along with their commander, Gen. George Armstrong Custer, by Indians at Little Big Horn. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: Prior to the street battle in 1846, Priest Vallon recites a portion of the Prayer to St. Michael: "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil." The prayer was written by Pope Leo XIII in 1888. moreQuotes:
Young Johnny Sirocco: Oy! Boyo!Young Amsterdam Vallon: Johnny.
Young Johnny Sirocco: What you doin', boyo?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: There's a battle. The natives against the dead rabbits.
Young Johnny Sirocco: Which side are you on?
Young Amsterdam Vallon: What do you think?
[points behind him]
Young Amsterdam Vallon: Dead rabbits.
more
Soundtrack:
The Hands That Built America (Theme from Gangs of New York) moreFAQ
A Note Regarding SpoilersWhat is Five Points like today?
How did the gang get the name "Dead Rabbits"?
more
more
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Gangs of New York is just perfect entertainment. It is an enthralling, bloody, melodramatic epic that more than justifies its two and one half hour running time. In Gangs director Martin Scorsese spins another tale of the New York underworld but with a twist. Instead of the mid-twentieth century organized crime milieu of Goodfellas, Scorsese ventures back to the 19th century to show us the origin of the modern street gang.
It's the early 1860s and the notorious Five Points slum is ruled by the savage `Bill the Butcher'. The viciously nationalistic Bill terrorizes all the immigrant masses jammed into his slum but seems to harbor a particular hatred for the Irish population. Into this seething cauldron wanders mysterious young Amsterdam Vallon who soon works his way into the trust and affection of Bloody Bill. Amsterdam, however, has a past with the unsuspecting Butcher and sports an agenda not unlike a certain Prince of Denmark. Bloody vengeance and dark betrayal soon come to pass, all played against a backdrop of corruption and unrest that lead to up to the horrors of New York Civil War draft riots.
Daniel Day-Lewis is marvelous as Bill the Butcher. His Bill is both recognizably human and a full bore, moustache-twirling villain. Day-Lewis strides his savage and profane way across the screen and steals the whole of the movie. The only other actor to approach Day-Lewis' level is Jim Broadbent as William 'Boss' Tweed. Broadbent is Tweed's spitting image and he makes the grasping old pirate so winning we find ourselves rooting for Tweed against the gaggle of reformers that infest his domain. Though Leonardo DiCaprio is the nominal lead of the picture he is overshadowed by his co-stars. Large, slope shouldered and vaguely brutish looking, DiCaprio is physically perfect for Amsterdam. While he could have used some of the fire and rage of a young James Cagney, DiCaprio's acting is superior throughout the movie. The problem is that Amsterdam just isn't as flashy a role as Bill or Tweed and, as good as DiCaprio is; Day-Lewis operates on a whole other level. Cameron Diaz as the beautiful pickpocket Jenny, never convinces that she is a product of the slums. Despite having considerable screen time, Diaz fades into the background when compared to her more powerful co-stars.
Just as important as the actors are to Gangs is the period atmosphere that drips off the screen. The amazing old New York set has an air of lived in reality that you could cut with a knife. You can almost smell the vermin. Gangs is entirely free of the embalmed feeling you get from most modern period movies. The cast handles the period argot as if it were their true speech and wear their costumes like lived-in clothing. You come away convinced that this is how the world looked and sounded in 1862.
Scorsese does eschew all nuance and subtlety in Gangs. Instead he tells his tale in wide, bold, exploitive and melodramatic strokes that make the movies two and a half hours fly by. Be warned that if you are waiting to see Gangs on DVD you are making a huge mistake. Gangs has to be seen at the theater. The detail and scope of the film cries out to be viewed in all its wide screen glory. This movie is a fantastic achievement.