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Gangs of New York (2002)
Martin Scorsese's historical epic was a long time in coming. The shoot was long and hard and produced some legendary battles with Miramax studio head Harvey Weinstein over financing. It's release was delayed and delayed again, leading to speculation that the director had a dud on his hands. Finally it arrives and while we may never know what sort of troubles occurred on the set, it can be said very emphatically that it was all worth it. Gangs of New York is thoroughly entertaining epic that gives us Americans a considerably messier view of our nation's history than we're probably used to seeing.
The film opens in a catacomb beneath the part of Manhattan known as Five Points. A young boy, Amsterdam, is watching his father prepare for war. Now we're talking about a military war here but instead a gang war that seems startlingly similar to the way nations fought. Amsterdam's father, Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson) leads a gang of Irish immigrants known as the Dead Rabbits. They are fighting for control of the area with a gang known as the Nativists, led by William Cutter aka Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis). The two gangs square off in long lines like armies of the period and then charge each other. Bill ends the conflict when he kills Vallon and sends Amsterdam off to the ominously named Hell's Gate orphanage. The film then flashes forward years to when Amsterdam (Leonardo di Caprio) is being released into public life. He quickly heads back to the old neighborhood and starts to work his way into Bill's gang. Amsterdam has been nursing a grudge for over a decade and figures the best way to get his revenge is from within Bill's organization, where he might have the opportunity to avenge his father in a very public manner.
He proves well suited for a criminal life and Bill quickly takes Amsterdam under his wing. Life improves for Amsterdam and at the same time he is falling for a mysterious pickpocket Jenny (Cameron Diaz). There meetings seem almost more like duels than a budding romance so strong is their attraction. Despite his rapidly ascent in stature and wealth Amsterdam also finds himself conflicted as it all comes from the very man who killed his father. This is not the sort of thing that generates a good night's sleep.
It's beyond the main story where the movie really shines though. The setting is an young and evolving nation. Rules and laws are made and enforced by those with the resources to do it themselves. This is an aspect of American history that has been little touched upon by the movies or history books. Life in this place and time period is fairly murky so I assume less than flawless historical accuracy in the film. But what it does give us is so fascinating and disturbing that it has to be seen to be believed. This is a point in history where things like the fire and police departments are not well organized municipal run organizations. Instead they are more like gangs themselves, with fire departments literally fighting each other for the right to put out a fire. The police are little better and those with the proper money and influence can bend them to their needs.
At this time, immigrants were streaming into this country. The Irish in particular were fleeing the potato famine in their home land, searching for a new life here. Those already here were less than pleased by this, leading to groups like Bill's Nativists, who comically thought of themselves as Native Americans. Then there were politicians like the legendary Boss Tweed, who ruled the corrupt Tammany Hall. To him, immigrants were votes and he bent over backwards to install them as little cogs in his political machine.
Acting in the film varies from good to spectacular. Cameron Diaz is good but isn't given all that much to do. Leonardo di Caprio turns in a confident performance that should cement him as a Hollywood leading man. But the real star here is Daniel Day-Lewis who is nothing short of brilliant. He turns Bill the Butcher into a wildly charismatic leader who is equal parts savage brute, sharp tactician and philosopher. Day-Lewis simply vanishes into the role. The character is endlessly fascinating watching him shift easily from highly emotional speeches praising the fallen Priest Vallon to stunningly vicious attacks on his enemies. I don't think I'm going out on a limb to predict that he will not only be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar but win it as well.
The film is both brutal and touching, angry and hopeful. It shows us a part of our past that says America was founded as much by the likes of Washington and Jefferson as it was by corrupt politicians and ethnic gangs. Set during the Civil War, we can see that the issue of race is hardly limited to blacks and whites. Any difference of nationality or religion or economic status was a potential flash point for poor people struggling to survive in a new nation. The nation's first draft was instituted at that time. Today we grumble about tax cuts that help one group over another but think about a draft that included an option to buy your way out for a mere $300, an amount many times beyond what the average person would hope to see in a year. This and the mounting power struggle between Bill and Amsterdam brings the film to a startling climax in the Draft Riots which left much of New York City a smoldering ruin.
Scorsese has crafted a film that is wildly entertaining and equally thought provoking. It is amongst the year's best films and deserves your time. If you skip it, and judging by the box office many of you have, don't come to me complaining about all the bad movies out there.
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