Gangs of New York (2002)

In 1862, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father's killer.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers:

Jay Cocks (story), Jay Cocks (screenplay)

Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis

Nominated for 10 Oscars. Another 50 wins & 124 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Amsterdam Vallon
Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting
Cameron Diaz	...	Jenny Everdeane
Jim Broadbent	...	Boss Tweed
John C. Reilly	...	Happy Jack
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
Lawrence Gilliard Jr.	...	Jimmy Spoils (as Larry Gilliard Jr.)
Cara Seymour	...	Hell-Cat Maggie

Storyline

In the god-forsaken district of early-1860's Lower Manhattan known as the Five Points, the vicious Nativist, Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, is the supreme overlord of an area riddled with crime, prostitution, theft and murder, as the American Civil War still rages on. Sixteen whole years after the brutal murder of his father from Bill's blood-stained hands, an orphaned Irish-American, Amsterdam Vallon, returns to this melting pot of corruption to avenge his untimely death; however, a lot has changed since then. Who can remember the once innocent boy and now a young man bent on revenge, who works his way up to the hierarchy of Five Points? Will Amsterdam ever taste the dangerous but sweet fruit of retribution?

---

Plot Keywords:

gangster | new york city | butcher | immigrant | title at the end | 

---

Taglines:

Freedom was born in the streets.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for intense strong violence, sexuality/nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Italy

Language:

English Irish Chinese Latin

Release Date:

20 December 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gangs of New York

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$100,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,100,000, 22 December 2002

Gross USA:

$77,812,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$193,772,504

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), Alberto Grimaldi Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

167 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bill the Butcher has a scene with every main and supporting character in the film, a symbol of his vast influence in the Five Points.

---

Goofs

In movie, the Five Points are Anthony, Orange, and Cross Streets. By the time the events in the movie take place, they had been renamed Worth, Baxter, and Park Streets, in an effort to change the area's reputation. Most Five Points residents would have still known and referred to the streets by their original names.

---

Quotes

Irish Singer: [singing] Well, meself and a hundred more, to America sailed o'er, with our fortunes to be made, so we were thinkin' / When we got to Yankee land, they shoved a gun into our hands / Saying "Paddy, you must go and fight for Lincoln."/ There is nothing here but war, where the murderin' cannons roar, and I wish I was back home in dear old Dublin.

---

Crazy Credits

Noises from the modern day New York streets play over the second half of the closing credits.

---

Alternate Versions

Scorsese's original cut of the film was 216 minutes (3 hours & 36 minutes) long.

---

Connections

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

---

Soundtracks

Paddy's Lamentation
Traditional
Arranged by Linda Thompson and Teddy Thompson
Performed by Linda Thompson
Linda Thompson appears courtesy of Rounder Records

User Reviews

Not the worst movie I have seen, but it is over-rated

I am the first to admit that I had doubts about this movie before I saw it. Hollywood never does well with a story "based" on historical fact. After seeing it, my fears were not allayed, even though the film is shot well and the acting was above average.

My main problem is the story itself. New York during the civil war was bad enough without having to embellish the story. Contrary to the theme of this movie, most of the rioting was caused by immigrants who resented the loss of jobs to freed slaves or feared would cause their wages to fall. Most of the violence was against blacks, including the burning of an orphanage and the killing and lynching of any unfortunate black caught on the streets.

This is definitely liberal Hollywood's view of history. It may be interesting, but it definitely isn't factual. Also, all the slobbering about how great Daniel Day Lewis is in this character is over-rated. His is the kind of brutal, troubled character that doesn't appeal to me.

See this movie if you want. Remember it is fiction of the worst kind.