Gangs of New York (2002)

VHS CASE/SIDE

Length of film: 167 Minutes

Rated: R

Genre: Crime, Drama

Director: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jim Broadbent, John C. Reilly, Henry Thomas, Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson

IMDB Rank: 7.5/10

Part 1 Time: 94 Minutes

Part 2 Time: 73 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Following Amsterdam Vollon’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) conversation with Bill Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis). Amsterdam asks Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz) if she wants to know anything about him. Jenny tells him about past trauma’s.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Who are you?” Jenny speaking to Amsterdam.

First line of dialogue on the second part: No dialogue in second half opening scene, Amsterdam throws knifes at a wooden pole at night as Walter McGinn (Brendan Gleeson) looks from a second story window.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Minimal, at this point in the film Amsterdam is working for Bill as a boxing bet collector. Amsterdam is seeing the benefits of being apart of the Bowery Boys Gang and seems to take pleasure in his role with them. Amsterdam must now decide to move forward with the Bowery Boys Gang or to avenge his fathers death and regain power of the Five Points of Lower Manhattan for the Dead Rabbits Gang.

Which part is better? The pacing of the film can be slow at times especially during the first half of the film. The acting performances of Day-Lewis and DiCaprio are sensational throughout the film and give the audience a realistic interpretation of New York City in 1863. Due to faster pacing and showcasing of the New York Draft Riots, part two is superior to the first half.

Academy Awards: Best Picture (Nominated), Best Leading Actor (Nominated- Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Director (Nominated), Best Writing (Nominated), Best Cinematography (Nominated), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Nominated), Best Costume Design (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated), Best Sound (Nominated), Best Music-Original Song (Nominated).