Gangs of New York 2002

In 1846, Lower Manhattan’s Five Points is the backdrop for an escalating territorial conflict between the “Natives,” who are born in the United States, and the newly arrived Irish Catholic immigrants. This clash comes to a head in Paradise Square, where the Natives are led by the notorious Bill the Butcher Cutting, portrayed by Daniel Day-Lewis, a Protestant fighting for the rights of those he believes are true Americans. Opposing him is the head of the Irish gang known as the Dead Rabbits, called Priest Vallon, played by Liam Neeson. The two factions engage in a brutal battle that concludes with Bill killing Vallon in front of his young son, Amsterdam.

After witnessing his father’s death, Amsterdam, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, seizes the knife used in the murder and escapes to bury it, only to end up in an orphanage at Hellgate. Years later, in September 1862, Amsterdam returns to New York and reunites with an old friend, Johnny Sirocco, who introduces him to Bill. Much to his dismay, Amsterdam discovers that many of his father’s loyalists have fallen under Bill’s command, including the corrupt constable Happy Jack Mulraney and the lieutenant McGloin.

Determined to infiltrate Bill’s inner circle, Amsterdam slowly earns Bill’s trust while secretly plotting his revenge for the death of his father. As the anniversary of the battle approaches, Amsterdam makes plans to kill Bill during the ceremony held in remembrance of the victory over the Dead Rabbits. Along the way, he becomes enamored with the charming and cunning pickpocket Jenny Everdeane, played by Cameron Diaz, though his romantic aspirations are complicated by her past as Bill’s ward.

During a stirring performance of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Amsterdam intervenes in an assassination attempt against Bill, which leads him to realize that his actions stem more from a growing loyalty to Bill than his own quest for vengeance. This complex relationship deepens when they both retire to a brothel, where a mix of passion and confrontation with Jenny leads to moments of intimacy against the backdrop of betrayal.

As the ceremonial night arrives, Amsterdam’s identity and intentions are revealed, setting off a chain of climactic events. In a dramatic knife-throwing act, Bill wounding Jenny becomes a pivotal moment, intensifying Amsterdam’s tragic fate. Bill, a figure of chaos and brutality, leaves Amsterdam marked and beaten but vows to let him live as a “freak,” all witnessed by a cheering crowd.

After going into hiding with Jenny, Amsterdam receives a straight razor from Monk McGinn, a relic from Vallon, which symbolizes the weight of his heritage and revenge. In a chilling response to escalating violence, Amsterdam sends a message of defiance to Bill, igniting further brutality that culminates in a series of brutal retaliations, culminating with the New York City draft riots.

In the pandemonium, the two adversaries finally confront each other amid the chaos of naval fire and the ensuing rubble of Paradise Square. As the dust settles, Bill, grievously injured, reflects on his life’s battles, uttering the haunting words, “Thank God, I die a true American.” In their final encounter, Amsterdam stabs Bill, marking a painful resolution to their intertwined fate.

Bill’s burial in Brooklyn, alongside Priest Vallon, serves as a haunting reminder of the turbulent times, as Amsterdam reflects on how history often forgets its heroes. The narrative closes with a stark contrast to modern-day New York, illustrating the city’s growth and evolution while the graves of both Bill and Vallon slowly fade into obscurity, suggesting that “we were never here.”