Gangs of New York

REVIEW
Xenophobia may not have started here, but it's certainly possibile it was refined to an art form since the birth of this nation -- by foreigners all. The plight of immigrants, and specifically how various segments of this embattled population co-existed, is at the heart of director Scorsese's blistering epic which examines the little known turf wars of the mid-1800s that plagued lower Manhattan. While a Civil War beset and divided a nation, civil unrest infested the Five Corners, where a brutal gang war between American-born "Nativists" and recent Irish emigrants has ordained the vile Bill "the Butcher" Cutting (Day-Lewis) the leader of the Lower East Side's lower classes. The son of the last "worthy" opponent Cutting faced (and butchered), Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), has returned after 16 years to seek his vengeance against Bill. Murder is not as easy a task for the youngster as it is for Bill, and, in a twisted irony, Bill becomes Vallon's surrogate father. Though its tale of revenge is central to Gangs of New York, Scorsese's extraordinary vision encompasses social and political issues that not only define a war-torn 19th-century America but our contemporary times as well: prejudice, political corruption, the advantages of the wealthy, and the debate over immigration. As a technician, Scorsese has topped himself: production design, costumes, cinematography and editing are outstanding, all contributing to a superlative evocation of the times. As a storyteller, Scorsese has rarely been better, ably juggling many plotlines and infusing each with passion and clarity. His ensemble is first-rate, including a stunning performance from Day-Lewis, who makes the villainous Bill both human and horrible; the splendid Diaz as a fiery Irish grifter caught between the two men; and DiCaprio, who is quite good as the embittered, fatherless Vallon.