Gangs of New York

Gangs of New York
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Name	Gangs of New York
Director	Martin Scorsese
Producer	Graham King
Writer	Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian (screenplay), inspired by Herbert Asbury (book)
Starring	Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz
Music	Howard Shore
Cinematography	Michael Ballhaus
Editing	Thelma Schoonmaker
Studio	Miramax Films, Paramount Pictures
Released	2002
Runtime	167 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Gangs of New York is a 2002 historical drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the nonfiction book by Herbert Asbury. The film follows rival factions in mid-19th century New York City and features themes of nativism, immigration, and urban violence during events surrounding the Civil War era and the Draft Riots of 1863. Its production involved collaboration among figures from Hollywood and international film industries and led to critical discussion about historical fidelity and cinematic representation.

Plot

The narrative centers on young Amsterdam Vallon, who returns to the Five Points neighborhood to avenge his father William Cutting after the death caused by Bill the Butcher, a leader of the Native Americans gang; the revenge arc intersects with the power struggles involving Tammany Hall, the Know Nothing movement, and the influence of police officials like William M. Tweed. The story depicts clashes between immigrant groups including Irish immigrants, rivalries with Nativist factions, and confrontations in settings such as the New York City Police Department precincts, markets, docks, and waterfronts, culminating during the turbulent period of the New York City draft riots and offering a portrait of urban transformation with references to landmarks like Five Points (Manhattan), Bowery (Manhattan), and the Hudson River waterfront.

Cast and characters

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon, Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill "the Butcher" Cutting, and Cameron Diaz as Jenny Everdeane, with supporting roles from Liam Neeson as William Cutting, Jim Broadbent as Boss Rueben "Boss" Vallon, John C. Reilly as Monk McGinn, Henry Thomas as Happy Jack Mulraney, Brendan Gleeson as Walter "Monk" McGinn (note: roles include ensemble performers across credits), and appearances by Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Michael Imperioli, and Stephen Graham. The principal cast connects to frequent collaborators like Thelma Schoonmaker (editor) and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, and features cameo or supporting work by performers associated with British theatre, Irish cinema, and Hollywood character traditions.

Production

Pre-production involved rights acquisition of Herbert Asbury's book and a screenplay process with Jay Cocks and Steven Zaillian, supervised by producer Graham King and executive producers affiliated with Miramax Films and Paramount Pictures. Principal photography took place on sets constructed at Cinecittà Studios in Rome and on location in New York City, with production design referencing period architecture from Five Points (Manhattan), 19th-century tenements, and waterfront structures near the Hudson River. Costume design and prosthetics drew on research into 19th-century fashion and immigrant dress, while the score by Howard Shore and sound work engaged technicians who had collaborated on films such as The Lord of the Rings, The Silence of the Lambs, and Braveheart. The film’s shoot encountered budget negotiations with companies like Miramax and union discussions involving guilds such as the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild, and post-production editing was led by Thelma Schoonmaker.

Historical basis and accuracy

The film adapts elements from Herbert Asbury's account of Five Points (Manhattan) and intertwines them with dramatized depictions of figures inspired by historical personages like William M. Tweed and factions related to Tammany Hall and the Know Nothing movement. Historians have compared the film’s portrayal of the New York City draft riots to primary sources from newspapers like the New York Times and archival records from the New-York Historical Society and the Municipal Archives of the City of New York. Critics and scholars from institutions such as Columbia University, New York University, and Fordham University have noted liberties in character creation, chronology compression, and conflation of multiple gangs and events, while acknowledging accurate evocations of urban squalor, immigrant struggles, and political patronage systems exemplified by bosses like Boss Tweed.

Release and reception

The film premiered at festivals and was distributed by Miramax Films and Paramount Pictures in 2002, opening in markets across the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and other territories. Critical response ranged from praise in outlets linked to publications such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter to scholarly critique in journals associated with Film Studies departments at institutions like UCLA, Harvard University, and Yale University. Box office performance was measured against contemporaneous releases including The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and audience reception included debates on historical portrayal led by commentators from Smithsonian Institution programs, public historians at the Museum of the City of New York, and cultural critics.

Awards and nominations

The film received nominations and awards from major organizations including the Academy Awards, the British Academy Film Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards, with recognition for achievements in acting, production design, costume design, and editing. Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio earned attention from bodies such as the Screen Actors Guild and the Chicago Film Critics Association, while technical awards came from institutions like the Art Directors Guild and the Costume Designers Guild, and festival honors were noted at events including the Venice Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival circuit.

Category:2002 films Category:Films directed by Martin Scorsese