Media

Movie Renter's Guide - June, 2008

 

"Gangs of New York" (Blu-ray)

Synopsis

In 1846, there was a terrible place in New York City called The Five Points, where five streets met. At that time, Irish immigrants were flooding the city, and this is where they ended up, forming numerous gangs to survive. The gangs often fought and many people died.

Priest Vallon (Neeson) was the leader of a gang called The Dead Rabbits. During one of the battles, Bill Cutting (Day-Lewis), the leader of The Natives, kills Priest, witnessed by Priest's son, Amsterdam (DiCaprio).

Amsterdam ends up in a reform school for 16 years, and when he is released, he heads back to the Five Points to seek revenge.

Bill does not recognize Amsterdam and he hires him into his gang, which by now, is working with a corrupt New York politician named Boss Tweed (Broadbent) to control New York City.

Finally though, Amsterdam lets Bill know who he is, and there is the ultimate showdown, during which New York City is being attacked as the Civil War rages.

Commentary

The Five Points is an actual place, and its history of violence and poverty is shown in graphic clarity here. The whole thing with the gangs reminds me of tribes in Europe during the Dark Ages.

Technical

Although this is a Blu-ray disc, the image quality is not as good as I would have liked to see. Far too much edge enhancement. I am not sure what the bitrate is, but it sure does not seem very sharp.

Extras

These include History of the Five Points, Uncovering the Real Gangs of New York, and other things.