Gangs of New York
I never knew what a great film was until I saw
“Gangs of New York.” This is hands down the best movie I’ve seen this
decade, and the #5 film of all time of my favorites. If anyone delivered a finer
performance than Daniel-Day Lewis then let me know, and Leonardo DiCaprio
isn’t bad either. The characters in this movie are very memorable and
remarkable. Yes, it is long, violent, and horrifying, but it is a must-see
movie.
“Gangs
of New York” tells of the making of New York and the gangs fighting for
control, specifically the native New Yorkers versus the Irish Immigrants. The movie opens in 1847 and we see Amsterdam Vallon’s father
(played by Liam Neeson), a member of the Dead Rabbits, killed in a gang war by
Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis), a member of the Nativtists. After that, the
Dead Rabbits have been banished from New York forever, and Bill and the
Nativtists rule the town. We then go to 1863 where we see Amsterdam Vallon
(Leonardo DiCaprio), as a young man, returning to his native “Five Points”
in New York. He vows revenge on Bill the Butcher for his father’s death, so
decides to join Bill’s gang, pretending to be a friend. Cameron
Diaz plays a pick pocket and becomes Vallon’s friend and later a love
interest.
You
could tell that director Martin Scorsese had been planning the end finale for a
long time, and when he put it on screen, it was a remarkable moment.
This
is one of Martin Scorsese’s best movies, and one of the greatest films ever
made. Some reasons I loved this movie are that it had thoughtful characters and
wonderful settings. The crew created a beautiful vision of 1800’s New York.
Overall, this is a cinematic masterpiece and a powerful, unforgettable film.
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