Scorcese's NY hits most targets

Gangs of New York is set in 1860’s Five Points, lower Manhattan, a lawless cesspit of vice and violence where arguments were settled with fists and clubs and vendettas were pursued to the bitter end.

Into this cauldron comes Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo Di Caprio), the orphaned son of Priest Vallon, one-time chief of the Dead Rabbits gang that led the Irish immigrants in the Five Points.

We see Amsterdam orphaned when his father is killed by ‘Bill the Butcher’ William Cutting (Daniel Day Lewis).

Now, 16 years later, he’s back to take his revenge on the man who has become the new leader of the neighbourhood.

While planning his strike Amsterdam works his way deep into the Butcher’s inner circle, but the closer he gets to him, the more he falls under his spell and ends up playing the role of the man’s surrogate son, while keeping the true secret of his past in the shadows.

While not as accomplished as some of Scorsese’s other films, Gangs of New York is an ambitious film that meets most of its targets.

The only downside was the ending, which tried to unite the hands that built America, rather than let the gangs get on with their fighting.

Drama, 18. HHH