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The Main Characters
--Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo Dicaprio) was a young boy when his father was murdered in a gang war. He comes back 16 years later and he wants revenge.
--William “Bill The Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis) is the leader of a “native” gang who wear blue sashes around their waists. In 1946 he kills Priest Vallon, and killing off his gang, winning the five points.
--Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz) is a master pickpocket who becomes the object of Amsterdam’s affections. He isn’t too pleased to learn she had a history with Bill the Butcher.
The Setting
Well, NYC circa 1860’s.
The Plot
New York City, 1846. Two rival gangs are prepared too fight. One group is formed of Irish immigrants, the other of natives. The leader of said groups are Priest Vallon and Bill The Butcher. They prepare for battle and in the violent epic, Bill the Butcher kills Vallon. Vallon’s gang of Irish immigrants dies along with Priest Vallon. Bill’s gang has won and they now control the five points. The fight affected people different ways but probably the most affected was Amsterdam Vallon’s, priests son. Bill has him sent away to “get a good education.”
16 Years later, Amsterdam returns. He runs into old childhood friends who tell him what has gone on in the 5 points. It has degenerated into a bunch of gangs patrolling the area. Amsterdam also runs into a woman named Jenny Everdeane, who manages to pickpocket his friends watch. Since he is a pickpocket, he has to give some of his earnings to the butcher and falls in good favor with him after getting some goods and after beating up one of his henchmen.
He has another run in with Jenny and this time steals something from him. He goes out and gets it back after a little confrontation. He asks how much she gives to the butcher and she says none. He wonders about teaming up with her and she scoffs at that idea. Amsterdam ends up being really close to Bill and he teaches him all the things he can. He even attends a party where Jenny is there. She chooses him in some sort of ceremony and she picked Amsterdam. They go to a room and he finds out that Jenny got a necklace from Bill and she gave him a little something something in return. He gets pissed and is done with her.
Amsterdam moves further and further up on Bill’s favorites list too. He even saves him when they are at a play. He can’t believe he did that and leaves and runs into a man who knew his father and fought beside him the day he died. He still finds himself hanging around with Bill, though. He even gets back together with Jenny. Bill can’t sleep that night so he has a talk to Amsterdam and he mentions Amsterdam’s father as the last great man he fought. He also learns, after Bill leaves, what Bill was to Jenny. Inspired by this, Amsterdam starts practicing throwing knives.
Unfortunately for Amsterdam, his friend who he first met after coming off the boat goes to Bill and tells him that Amsterdam is Vallon’s son. See, he was jealous of Amsterdam for getting Jenny. There’s a party that night where Amsterdam had plotted with Jenny to take down Bill, but of course, Bill knows about it now. He has a knife-throwing exhibition with Jenny that goes a little too close for comfort and when Amsterdam gets ready to throw the knife, Bill is prepared. He throws the knife as Bill is about to drink to the day when he killed Priest Vallon. Bill blocks it and throws at knife into his stomach then scars him so everyone will know how is his.
Jenny and Amsterdam escape in hiding to the old hideout of his father and who shows up but Priest’s good friend who was with him at his final day. Earlier, he had picked something out of Priest’s pocket for safekeeping and he gave it to Amsterdam, his father’s shaving razor. Amsterdam makes a statement by killing and hanging a police officer on a lamppost. It wasn’t any cop but a close associate of Bill and former ally of Amsterdam’s father. Slowly, he starts building up the Irish gang again. All they need is a spark to wake them up.
Things almost come to a head when Bill and his group go to Amsterdam’s hideout and see way too many people there. A man comes up representing Tammany saying that if he can get all the Irish votes he will help get Bill out. The only way he’ll do that is to elect an Irishman sheriff, and he chooses Walter McGinn, (the man who stood by Amsterdam’s father on the day he died and gave Amsterdam the shaving razor). McGinnis actually ends up winning which doesn’t sit well with Bill Cutting. Bill shows up for a confrontation but McGinnis gives him none. Bill throws a butcher knife in his back then kills him with his famous club.
Then, the draft came. Then the rioting came. As this was happening, the final battle between Amsterdam’s gang and Bill’s gang. The army actually comes in and fires on the rioters in hopes of stopping them. A cannonball from a nearby is even shot into the five points where the gangs are battling. There is a final smoke filled battle between Amsterdam and Bill.
Movie Review
I’ve read many complaints that movie is just too long. Honestly, I didn’t think that when watching it. Maybe it has something to do with me being from New York and maybe I just liked it more because it dealt with places I have actually been too. It’s like a history lesson almost, courtesy of Martin Scorsese. I truly liked this movie and from the beginning to end it’s really good. True there are bound to be some boring parts in a movie over two hours, but that’s forgivable. Overall, I would recommend this movie to anyone who lives in New York City, as it really makes you think back onto all those years ago when this did happen. I don’t know if people not around the city would like it as much, but it’s worth a look anyway. ***1/4.
DVD Features
A) Extras
---Disc One---
1) Feature Commentary
The commentary is done by Martin Scorsese. Since the first half of the movie is on disc one and the second half is on disc two, the commentary is thus broken up into two parts. I have to say that this commentary is excellent. The only problem is that it cuts off in the middle (when the movie switches discs) and is restarted like mid thought in the second one. Other than that, it is everything you could want. Scorsese knows his movies and he talks about the factual aspects behind the movie, and how he came up with certain things, the actors and generally explaining every important scene.
2) Set Design
Dante Ferretti takes us through a 9-minute interview about the set design, and this movie used a massive set.
3) Exploring the Sets of Gangs of New York
During the documentary, a 360 degrees icon will pop. Hit enter and you can have a 360-degree view of the set. It’s actually a really cool feature. It’s a 22 minute long feature with Scorsese and Ferretti (sorry I didn’t catch his name). They basically tour the massive set giving their insight on it and its historical significance.
4) Costume Design
This is an 8-minute featurette on the costume design and it interviews Sandy Powell, the cast members and Scorsese.
5) History of the Five Points
It’s basically a 13-minute primer on the history behind this movie and its told by Luc Sante. It’s reallllly interesting (but maybe it’s because I’m from New York?).
6) Five Points Study Guide
There is a Luc Sante Introduction (from his book, Gangs of New York) and a Five Points Vocabulary dictionary. Take that you prim star-gazer.
7) Trailer
It’s 2 and a half minutes long and is a pretty decent trailer.
8) Teaser Trailer
Also about 2 and a half minutes long and is just a variation of the teaser.
9) Sneak Peeks
You get trailers for: Kill Bill, Frida, Chicago, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese and The Quiet American. I’ve only seen two of these movies (Kill Bill and Chicago) and I loved them both.
---Disc Two---
1) Feature Commentary (part 2)
This is the second half of the commentary and it’s just as good as the first part. Overall, it’s an awesome commentary and Scorsese is one of my favorite directors so hearing him talk about his movie and all these other things over 2 and a half hours was great.
2) Discovery Channel Show: “Uncovering the Real Gangs of New York”
This is a 35 minute show about the REAL gangs of New York.
3) Music Video: U2’s “The Hands That Build America”
It’s the music video to the song U2 contributed to the soundtrack. It’s actually a really good song and the video is the band playing in the studio interspersed with clips of the film and all the band scenes are done in this old style coloring (almost sepia but not quite). Very good song and great song.
B) Audio/Video
For the audio, you can listen to it in either DTS 5.1 Digital Surround or Dolby 5.1 Digital Surround. The movie is presented in widescreen 2.35:1. The splitting up of the movie onto DVD’s was really a great idea, as they have more room to put the video and audio and it is done wonderfully.
C) Liner Notes
I bought this bad boy on E-Bay and it was previously viewed and when I got it, there were no liner notes. I don’t know if it came with any or mine was missing but whatever. That’s why I only buy sealed DVD’s now.
D) Easter Eggs
None
Overall Review
I love New York. I just want everyone to know that. Since I love New York, I love all films about New York. Martin Scorsese is from New York and many of his movies take place there. So taken with those three facts, you know I would love this movie. The movie I thought was great and the ending is extremely powerful, IMHO. The DVD is exceptional too. There are tons of DVD features talking about the history of the movie, the facts behind it, creating the set and just a whole bunch of stuff. The commentary is absolutely a-mazing and anyone who loves New York and wants to know more about its past, look no further than this DVD. Watch the movie, then learn the back-story behind it and appreciate it even more. I don’t know if those from outside of NY would be as enthralled with it as New Yorkers would, but it’s a great DVD that compliments a great movie.
Overall Rating
9.0
10.0 Perfect
9.0-9.5 Near Perfect, Highly Recommended
8.0-8.5 Really good disc, Recommended
7.0-7.5 Good DVD, Mildly recommended
6.0-6.5 Above Average DVD. Mildest of mild recommendations
5.0-5.5 Decent all around disc, but catch it on TV
4.0-4.5 Great Movie but horrible DVD
3.0-3.5 Horrible movie but great DVD
2.0-2.5 There’s at least some merit to this DVD, but not much.
1.0-1.5 Horrible DVD, don’t even bother
0.0-0.5 Worst DVD ever
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