A Modern Classic Gangster Movie Airing Tonight
Tonight's TV movie choice (8 November) is Gangs of New York, a period gangster epic directed by Martin Scorsese, known for Goodfellas and The Departed.
About the Film
The 2002 film is adapted from Herbert Asbury's 1927 non-fiction book The Gangs of New York and features a star-studded 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 Summary
The story centers on Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), an orphaned Irish-American in 19th-century New York City. He returns to the Five Points area to seek revenge against William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting (Day-Lewis), the formidable anti-immigrant gang leader who killed 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 Background
Gangs of New York was a long-standing passion project for Scorsese but faced difficulties during production, including extended shooting schedules and budget overruns. Reports also indicate that producer Harvey Weinstein demanded cuts to the film, and there might be a longer, unreleased version that aligns more closely with Scorsese's original vision.
Cast Highlights
- Daniel Day-Lewis as William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon
- Liam Neeson as Vallon's father
- Brendan Gleeson, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Marsan, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Stephen Graham in supporting roles
Summary: Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York is a richly cast, turbulent production portraying a gritty quest for revenge and survival amid 19th-century New York's gang conflicts.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or casual?