Synopsis:
Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York” unfolds in 1860’s lower Manhattan
during a period of great unrest in America. With the Civil War
underway. The country was torn apart and on the brink of chaos. For the
lower-class inhabitants of New York City, a war was also raging closer
to home.
Their home was the Five Points, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in
America, where rival gangs fought continuously for control of the
streets. An area of poverty and criminality between New York harbour,
the flourishing Wall Street business district, and lower Broadway, it
was a magnet for underworld activity.
In this time of lawlessness and the rampant political corruption that
filled the halls of city government, the film follows the story of
Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio). A young Irish-American immigrant.
Released from prison after fifteen years, he returns to the Five Points
bent on revenge against William Cutting, a.k.a. Bill the Butcher
(Daniel Day-Lewis), the powerful anti-immigrant gang leader who killed
Amsterdam’s father. Amsterdam knows the first step toward accomplishing
his mission is to infiltrate Bill’s inner circle. However, Amsterdam
finds his difficulties increasing when he meets Jenny Everdeane
(Cameron Diaz), an enigmatic pickpocket whose fierce independence and
undeniable beauty fascinate him. Yet Jenny has a past too, which
unexpectedly complicates his plan.
