A Review of the Movie - Gangs of New York

The movie "Gangs of New York" was released in 2002. I first saw the Martin Scorcese film when it was first released. I did not think much of the film upon first viewing. I thought it was entertaining but not a great film. I saw it again a few months ago, and I must say that I found new insights after I saw it again. I now think of this as a great movie.

To summarize the film briefly - The movie is about New York in the year 1863. It shows quite accurately I feel what life was like in New York in the Civil War era.

The main plot centers on a city gangster - Bill "the butcher" Cutting played by Daniel Day Lewis and an Irish immigrant - Amsterdam Vallon played by Leonardo Di Caprio. Bill killed Amsterdam"s father years before and now Vallon wants revenge. He wants to kill Cutting.

The movie shows the hostility between the "natives" - people who were born in America and the immigrants - people who came to America from other countries. The natives called themselves real Americans, somehow superior to the immigrants.

After my second viewing of the film I realized what a violent and racist society New York was over a century ago. Life was at times barbaric. New York was a melting pot of many different people but it was definitely not all sweetness and love. Many ethnic groups hated each other and that hatred often erupted into violence. A prime example were the draft riots of July,1863 in which mostly Irish mobs went on a killing spree. They targeted groups they did not like, particularly African-Americans and the rich. Federal troops had to be called in from Gettysburg to restore order after days of death and destruction. Crime, vice and corruption were rampant.

Director Scorcese paints a stunning, realistic and gritty portrait of New York not so long ago in our history. The movie shows while the nation was at war with itself during the civil war, New York was at war with itself. The city was going through growing pains which resulted in the 20th century of New York becoming one of the greatest cities in the world.

I highly recommend seeing this film for the great acting performances, the settings and a way of life at the crossroads of American history. View an important part of New York history.