Martin Scorsese is well known not only for his cinematography skills, but also for the ingenuous way he portrays New York City in his films.  In Gangs of New York (2002), he takes us back to 19^th century Lower Manhattan to witness the social and political upheavals that shape the lives of the characters. His film received numerous accolades and was nominated for four Golden Globes and ten Academy Awards.

The story is set in the Five Points, a district that existed as a slum ridden with disease and crime for over 50 years. The Protestant Americans that demanded higher, more favorable political status and were hostile towards immigrants, particularly the Irish Catholics, called themselves the “nativists” and dominated the neighborhood. The distinguished social groups commonly formed gangs. This film introduces the Bowery Boys, a gang of U.S. born men. Daniel Day Lewis plays their ruthless leader, Bill “the Butcher” Cutting. The gang clashes with the Dead Rabbits, a group of  lower-class, Irish Catholic immigrants  led by Priest Vallon. In 1846, the priest is killed by Bill the Butcher, and his son, Amsterdam Vallon, witnesses the gruesome murder. Amsterdam runs away and is raised by an orphanage, but soon returns to the Five Points in 1862 as an adult portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio.

With the desire to avenge his father, Amsterdam feigns loyalty to Bill “the Butcher”, but discovers that many of the Dead Rabbits have actually joined the Bowery Boys as they earned more influential positions in society. He also learns of “Boss” Tweed, his political machine known as Tammany Hall, and the corruption in which they engage. Although this organization is identified as a Democratic party and helps the immigrant population seek employment, the politicians themselves indulge in decadent lifestyles and actively participate in laundering and bribery. Bill “the Butcher” is one of the few figures that have influence over the actions of Tammany Hall.

The romantic sub-plot of the story deals with the relation between DiCaprio’s character and Jenny Everdeane, a con artist played by Cameron Diaz. She is part of the lower-class community of Catholic immigrants, but was previously involved in a relationship with Bill “the Butcher”. Scorsese creates as much tension as he can between Amsterdam and Bill “the Butcher” and works his way to a face-off between the two characters and their gangs amidst the draft riots and election scandals that disturb much of the city.

 While the animosity between the two gangs appears to be messy and over-ferocious, the principle characters had well-developed identities and unique motivations for their actions. Jenny the con artist desires nothing more to escape the city’s hostility and live happily on the other side of the country, Amsterdam wants justice to be served, and Bill “the Butcher” wishes to be an honored yet feared American leader.

Although the character of Amsterdam may appear to be oversimplified (much of the film is about him actively making preparations for combat while uncovering the Bowery Boys’ brutality), DiCaprio demonstrates passion in his role and makes it clear that there is a great deal of pressure involved in his scheme. A memorable quote from the movie summarizes his intent well: “When you kill a king, you don’t stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die.”

Bill “the Butcher” is the most remarkable personality in the film. Daniel Day Lewis’ interpretation of a psychopathic butcher solidifies the story as he presents himself as the fearsome, all-powerful antagonist. His meat knives and eerie glass eyeball are the perfect costume accessories to his violent dominance. There is much more to him than this; Bill “the butcher” prides himself of his strength and his role as a leader. He draws a lot of sympathy from the audience throughout the film for his beliefs, especially in one particular scene in which he sits in a room wrapped in an American flag and speaks of how Priest Vallon was the most respectable enemy he had fought and that his tactics inspire him.

Scorsese did an adequate job bringing to life the society that existed in the gritty, indecent neighborhood that once was the Five Points. Many of the riot scenes are interspersed with shots of wealthy families feasting in extravagant rooms; the two happenings merge at one point when a dissenter crashes through the window and starts attacking the people. The Bowery Boys and their dehumanizing behavior is prevalent in party scenes when they ridicule Chinese performers and violate females. The controversies behind the elections were legitimate problems in the city’s history, as Tammany Hall had truly fallen following “Boss” Tweed catastrophic reign. The film’s historically accuracy is commendable, as is the levels of tension between the gangs and the choppy, chaotic instants that define this era.