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Gangs of New York

Gangs of New York

Drama · History · Crime · 2002

In early 1860s New York, Irish immigrant Amsterdam Vallon is released from prison and returns to the Five Points, seeking revenge against his father's killer, William Cutting, a powerful anti-immigrant gang leader. He knows that revenge can only be attained by infiltrating Cutting's inner circle. Vallon's journey becomes a fight for personal survival and to find a place for the Irish people.

Movie details

Gangs of New York

“America was born in the streets.”

2002 Drama · History · Crime 2h 48m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

In early 1860s New York, Irish immigrant Amsterdam Vallon is released from prison and returns to the Five Points, seeking revenge against his father's killer, William Cutting, a powerful anti-immigrant gang leader. He knows that revenge can only be attained by infiltrating Cutting's inner circle. Vallon's journey becomes a fight for personal survival and to find a place for the Irish people.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Gangs of New York?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Martin Scorsese

Written by

Steven Zaillian · Kenneth Lonergan · Jay Cocks

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

Amsterdam Vallon

Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis

Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz

Jenny Everdeane

Jim Broadbent

Jim Broadbent

Boss Tweed

John C. Reilly

John C. Reilly

Happy Jack

Henry Thomas

Henry Thomas

Johnny Sirocco

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson

'Priest' Vallon

Court is in session

Put Gangs of New York on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.