A Modern Classic Gangster Movie Airing Tonight
Tonight's TV movie pick (8 November) is Gangs of New York, a period gangster epic directed by Martin Scorsese, known for works like Goodfellas and The Departed.
About the Film
The 2002 movie is based on the 1927 non-fiction book The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury. It features an impressive ensemble cast including Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio, alongside Brendan Gleeson, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Marsan, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Liam Neeson, and Stephen Graham.
Plot Overview
The story follows Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), an orphaned Irish-American in 19th-century New York. He returns to the Five Points neighborhood seeking revenge on William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting (Day-Lewis), a gang leader and the murderer of his father (Neeson).
“Vallon knows that revenge can only be attained by infiltrating Cutting’s inner circle. Amsterdam’s journey becomes a fight for personal survival and to find a place for the Irish people in 1860s New York.”
Production Challenges
Gangs of New York was a long-standing passion project for Scorsese but experienced a difficult production, with filming extending beyond schedule and budget. Additionally, there have been reports about producer Harvey Weinstein demanding cuts to the film and about an unreleased, longer version that might better reflect Scorsese’s original vision.
Cast Highlights
- Daniel Day-Lewis as William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon
- Liam Neeson as Amsterdam’s father
- Brendan Gleeson, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Marsan, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Stephen Graham in supporting roles
Author’s summary: Scorsese’s Gangs of New York remains a gripping historical gangster drama with a stellar cast, despite production struggles and controversy over its final cut.