Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Jim Broadbent, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas. Directed by Martin Scorcese. Five Points is a dark, chaotic, lawless part of mid-1800's New York City. Amsterdam (DiCaprio) is the orphaned son of the slain Priest Vallon (Neeson), once chief warrior of the Dead Rabbits gang that rallied the Irish immigrants of the Five Points. He's intent on revenge against Butcher Bill (Day-Lewis), the man who killed his father and the leader of the Nativists gang, those who were born in America and who do not much appreciate the immigrant hordes flowing into the city. Bill runs Five Points, takes his cut of any action flowing through it, and ruthlessly and violently exterminates anyone threatening his grip on the district. When Amsterdam returns, he first meets an old friend Johnny (Thomas), and both join Bill's gang doing odd illegal jobs to gain Bill's trust. He also meets a young and pretty pickpocket Jenny (Diaz) who has a long-standing mysterious connection to Bill. Also in the picture are local politician William 'Boss' Twead (Broadbent) trying to control and profit from Bill's activities at the ballot box, Monk McGinn, an old associate of Priest and now a barber whose intentions and loyalties are a mystery, and Happy Jack, the corrupt cop who patrols Five Points and who used to be Priest's right-hand man. The feud boils over in Five Points at the same time as the 1863 Civil War Draft Riots erupt, which feature New York citizens and immigrants protesting being conscripted into fighting the Confederates, sending the city in a burning, rioting conflict. If you want a bloodbath, Gangs Of New York is the film for you. Unlike Scorcese's violent classics Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, this film features stylized, more Hollywood style battles. In the opening scenes where we see the Nativists take on the Dead Rabbits, the violence and bloodshed is relentless and stylish, with weird camera angles and an almost comical take on Bill's actual kill of Priest. It's hard to feel anything for the characters yet because we don't really know any of them - both sides are a rough-edged, unsavoury lot. Sixteen years later, not a lot has changed. Bill dresses better, but he's still the same jerk consumed by his biases and a warped sense of honour. The final, cataclysmic battle and riots take on a much sadder tone than in the opening scenes, because by now we in the audience know the characters, and understand the New York citizenry's disdain for conscription. There being mowed down, natives and immigrants, by the Union army takes is tragic and disturbing. The final confrontation between Amsterdam and Bill is contrived and overly manipulative, a low point in the film. In between the carnage is some romance with Amsterdam and Jenny, some heartbreaking moments involving Johnny and Monk, an interesting subplot involving the Civil War and conscription, and surprise, surprise, some additional violence featuring Bill. There are reports that the studio ordered cuts to the film to an unappreciative Scorcese, and in parts the story seems to jump, missing some details. But overall, the story moves along well and understandably. Reviews have emphasized the intense, showy performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. He is quite good, a few times over-the-top, and is fun to watch. Some reviews have also suggested he dominates the much less showy Leonardo Di Caprio. I would beg to differ. DiCaprio shows excellent range and although he fails to chew the scenery, he brings a quiet intensity and generates sympathy towards his character that carries the movie in its non-violent moments, and there actually are quite a few of those moments. My favourite performance is that of Jim Broadbent, who breezily portrays the air of a corrupt politician who will do anything he has to, sometimes good and sometimes bad, to control and manipulate the electorate and votes, and win elections. His scenes are the most fun to watch in a movie that does not emphasize fun. Do I recommend this film to you? Overall I liked the film, but I am not wildy enthusiastic about it. It is a film with lots of manly action but I'm not sure there's enough of other good things, like story and character development, to recommend it to those not entirely appreciating carnage. However, I did enjoy the historical aspects and perspectives and wish there were more of them. If you would like to respond, please click the E-Mail Press Here To Go To The Review List Page